OUR FOREST CHORISTERS. 193 



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



Spink, spank, spink ; 

 Nice good wife, that never goes out, 

 Keeping house while I frolic about. 

 Ghee, chee, chee. 



S. 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. 

 Ghee, chee, chee. 



7. 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. 



8. Summer wanes ; the children are grown | 



Fun and frolic no more he knows ; 

 Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone ; 

 Off he flies, and we sing as he goes : 

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

 Spink, spank, spink ; 

 When you can pipe that merry old strain, 

 Robert of Lincoln, come back again. 



Ghee, chee, chee. Bryant 



