LOB's
COURTSHIP
.
As
Lob
among
his
cows
one
day
,
Was
filling
of
their
cribs
with
hay
;
As
he
to
th'
crib
the
hay
did
carry
,
It
came
into
his
head
to
marry
;
Says
he
,
there's
little
merry
Nell
,
I
think
I
like
her
very
well
;
But
she
,
perhaps
,
at
me
will
scoff
,
Besides
,
she
lives
a
great
way
off
:
He
mus'd
a
while
,
then
judg'd
it
better
,
The
courtship
to
begin
by
letter
;
So
he
a
bit
of
paper
found
,
'Twas
neither
long
,
nor
square
,
nor
round
;
It
was
the
best
that
he
could
find
,
And
on
it
thus
,
he
wrote
his
mind
:
Dear
Nelly
,
I
make
bold
to
send
My
love
to
you
,
and
am
your
friend
;
I
think
you
are
a
pretty
maid
,
And
wonder
much
that
you
don't
wed
;
If
you
can
like
a
country
man
,
I'll
come
and
see
you
,
if
I
can
,
When
roads
are
good
,
and
weather
fine
,
But
first
I
hope
you'll
send
a
line
.
Then
he
in
haste
this
letter
sent
,
Also
two
apples
did
present
,
Which
Nell
receiv'd
,
and
read
the
letter
,
(
But
she
lik'd
the
apples
better
)
;
When
read
she
into
the
fire
threw
it
,
And
never
sent
an
answer
to
it
.
When
spring
drew
on
,
the
cuckow
sung
,
The
roads
were
dry
,
and
days
were
long
,
The
cows
were
all
turn'd
out
to
grass
,
Then
Lob
set
out
to
see
his
lass
;
He
oil'd
his
shoes
,
and
comb'd
his
hair
,
As
if
a
going
to
a
fair
:
He
was
a
very
clever
clown
,
His
frock
was
of
the
sustian
brown
,
His
stick
was
bended
like
a
bow
,
His
handkerchief
too
made
a
show
,
His
hat
stood
like
the
pot-lid
round
,
So
on
he
went
,
and
Nell
he
found
.
What
Nelly
!
how
dost
do
?
says
he
,
Come
,
will
you
go
along
with
me
O'er
yonder
stile
,
a
little
way
Along
that
close
;
Nell
,
what
dost
say
?
Me
go
with
you
o'er
yonder
stile
?
Says
Nell
,
indeed
I
can't
a-while
;
So
she
stept
in
,
and
shut
the
door
,
And
he
shabb'd
off
,
and
said
no
more
.