  THERE are two roads near Joppa town And here I doubting stood, For one went winding round the hill The other thru the wood. And if I took the winding road ’Twould lead me thru the mall, Of noise and gossipers for which I have no heart at all. Sweet briar nodded from the hill, The blue bells from the shade. A purple finch decided me, So in the wood I stayed. A brooding bird and restless young, Began to chide and fret. And wonder in bird fashion what I ever came to get. A green snake ran across my path Its eyes were jewel small. A flying squirrel left a tree, That seemed ten paces tall. I picked a fern that had uncurled Itself from out the ground. And O! the wood delighted me, The way it stood around. And there were holy moments when My very soul went still. And sad I was for folks who took The road around the hill. And when I left the sancted place, My arms were loaded down. It cost me not one pang to shun, The road to Joppa town. |
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