The Dusky Crew

1 
Our heads were rough, and our hands were black 
  With the ink-stain's midnight hue;
We scouted all, both great and small—
  We were a dusky crew;
And each boy's hand was against us raised—
  'Gainst me and the Other Two. 
2 
We chased the hare from her secret lair,
  We roamed the woodlands through; 
In parks and grounds far out of bounds
  Wandered our dusky crew;
And the keepers swore to see us pass—
  Me and the Other Two. 
3 
And one there was who was light of limb,
  Nimble and wary too.
A spirit grim we made of him
  Unto our dusky crew;
He fetched and carried for all us three—
  Me and the Other Two.
4 
Our secret caves in the cold dark earth
  The luscious lettuce grew;
We ate the cress in merriness—
  We were a dusky crew;
The radish red gave sweet repast
  To me and the Other Two.
5 
Our lettuces are dead and gone,
  Our plans have fallen through;
We wander free in misery—
  We are a wretched crew;
For a master's wrath has fallen on us—, 
  On me and the Other Two.
6 
He found our cave in the cold, dark earth, 
  He crept the branches through;
He caught us in our Council-Hall— 
  Caught us, a dusky crew;
To punishment he led us all—
  Me and the Other Two. 
7 
Our lettuces are dead and gone,
  Our plans have fallen through.
We wander free in misery—
  We are a wretched crew.
Will happiness no more return
  To me and the Other Two?

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