A HOUSEWIFE TO A NEIGHBOUR

HOUSEWIFE

So you are out of tea, then, quite,
And out of candle for the night?

NEIGHBOUR

And must be till the flood is down,
And I can go again to town.

HOUSEWIFE

Come in, then, you shall have your share
Of anything that I can spare;
It would be hard if my good friends
Did me good turns without amends.
At see-saw, see-saw, I and you
Would always make the fellow two.

NEIGHBOUR

As we had pull'd the uppermost
Grey rail out clear of post and post,
And on the middle bar would lay
Its even-weighted ends; to play
At see-saw, high, with springy toes,
And see-saw, low, with springy blows.

HOUSEWIFE

And so, as you lift me, I'll try
To lift up you if I am high;
Some evil day, if I let you
Fall down, why, I may tumble too.