:48:02
''a wondrous portal
opened wide...''
:48:06
''as if a cavern
were suddenly hollowed,
:48:09
''and the piper advanced
and the children followed.''
:48:15
''And when all were in
to the very last...''
:48:18
''the door in the mountainside
shut fast.''
:48:22
''Did l say all?
:48:25
''No. One was lame...''
:48:29
''and could not dance
the whole of the way.''
:48:32
''And in afteryears,
if you would blame his sadness,
:48:37
''he was used to say...''
:48:40
''lt's dull in our town
since my playmates left.''
:48:45
''l can't forget
that l'm bereft...
:48:47
''of all the pleasant sights
they see,
:48:50
''which the piper
also promised me.''
:48:55
''For he led us, he said,
to a joyous land...''
:48:59
''joining the town
and just at hand...''
:49:05
''where waters gushed
and fruit trees grew...''
:49:10
''and flowers put forth
a fairer hue...''
:49:15
''and everything
was strange and new.''
:49:38
By the time l reached the bottom
of Bartlett Hill Road,
:49:42
l had half my load.
:49:46
Let's see...20.
:49:49
No. 22 kids aboard.
:49:54
They'd walk to their places
on the main road,
:49:58
from the smaller lanes
and private roadways...