2.  Robert of Lincoln is gaily dressed,
     Wearing a bright black wedding coat: 
   White are his shoulders, and white his crest,
     Hear him call in his merry note: 
       “Bobolink, bobolink,
       Spink, spank, spink,
   Look what a nice new coat is mine;
   Sure, there was never a bird so fine. 
              Chee, chee, chee.”

3.  Robert of Lincoln’s Quaker wife,
     Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
   Passing at home a patient life,
     Broods in the grass while her husband sings: 
       “Bobolink, bobolink,
       Spink, spank, spink,
   Brood, kind creature; you need not fear
   Thieves and robbers while I am here. 
              Chee, chee, chee.”

4.  Modest and shy as a nun is she,
     One weak chirp is her only note;
   Braggart and prince of braggarts is he,
     Pouring boasts from his little throat: 
       “Bobolink, Bobolink,
       Spink, spank, spink,
   Never was I afraid of man,
   Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can. 
              Chee, chee, chee.”

5.  Six white eggs on a bed of hay,
     Flecked with purple, a pretty sight! 
   There as the mother sits all day,
     Robert is singing with all his might: 
      “Bobolink, bobolink,
      Spink, spank, spink,
   Nice good wife that never goes out,
   Keeping house while I frolic about. 
              Chee, chee, chee.”

6.  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.. 
       “Bobolink, bobolink,
       Spink, spank, spink,
   This new life is likely to be
   Hard for a gay young fellow like me. 
              Chee, 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: 
       “Bobolink, bobolink,
       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: 
       “Bobolink, bobolink,
       Spink, spank, spink,
   When you can pipe that merry old strain,
   Robert of Lincoln, come back again. 
              Chee, chee, chee.”

—­William Cullen Bryan.

XLI.  REBELLION IN MASSACHUSETTS STATE PRISON.

1.  A more impressive exhibition of moral courage, opposed to the wildest ferocity under the most appalling circumstances, was never seen than that which was witnessed by the officers of our state prison; in the rebellion which occurred some years since.