Poetic Interpretation 153 



Keeping house while I frolic about. 

 Chee, chee, chee. 



Soon as the little ones chip the shell, 



Six wide mouths are open for food; 

 Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well, 

 Gathering seeds for the hungry brood. 

 Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 

 Spink, spank, spink; 

 This new life is likely to be 

 Hard for a gay young fellow like me. 

 Chee, chee, chee. 



Robert of Lincoln at length is made 



Sober with work, and silent with care; 

 Off is his holiday garment laid, 

 Half forgotten that merry air: 

 Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 

 Spink, spank, spink; 

 Nobody knows but my mate and I 

 Where our nest and our nestlings lie. 

 Chee, chee, chee. 



Summer wanes; the children are grown; 



Fun and frolic no more he knows ; 

 Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone; 



