Mother Wept

Mother wept, and father sigh’d;  
 With delight a-glow  
Cried the lad, “To-morrow,” cried,  
 “To the pit I go.”  
 
Up and down the place he sped,          
 Greeted old and young,  
Far and wide the tidings spread,  
 Clapp’d his hands and sung.  
 
Came his cronies, some to gaze  
 Rapt in wonder; some          
Free with counsel; some with praise;  
 Some with envy dumb.  
 
“May he,” many a gossip cried,  
 “Be from peril kept;”  
Father hid his face and sighed,          
 Mother turned and wept.