And when 'twas said that Moses Grimes,
A justice of the peace,
Had got the likeliest bull in town,
The deacon had no ease.
So off he rode to see the squire,
And put this question straight:
"Say, don't you want another bull,
And don't yours want a mate?"
The squire, perceiving at a glance
All that the man was after,
"Just forty pounds will buy my bull,"
Quoth he, with ready laughter.
And when the beast was brought to view,
And carefully surveyed,
Of deepest red, its every point
Of excellence displayed.
"I'll take him at your price," said he--
"Please drive him down to-morrow,
And you shall have the money, sir,
If I the cash can borrow."
So saying, turned he on his steed,
The nimble-footed Bonny;
To-morrow came, and came the bull--
The deacon paid the money.
The sun was hid behind the hills--
The next day would be Sunday;
"You'll put him in the barn," said he,
"And leave him there till Monday."
The deacon was a man of peace,
For so he claimed, albeit
When there was war among the beasts,
He always liked to see it.
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