Oh, Robert de Spencer had a son,
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
A lad of four; a lively boy,
His father's pride and his mother's joy--
But other folks he did annoy.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh.

Oh, Neville was a naughty child,
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
The cats he'd tease, the dog he'd bite,
And with his sisters he would fight.
He was the terror of Hold Tyte.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

He'd fill the horses' tails with burs.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
He set the tapestries on fire
And threw his clothing in the mire.
And once he tripped a passing friar.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

He wandered from the Hold one day.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
He found a cottage 'mongst the trees
And entered like a vagrant breeze
Without the merest "If you please."
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
	 
Inside he found the nicest toys--
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
A skull, all shiny clean and white,
Some bottles full of liquids bright,
A tall hat black as darkest night.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

He climbed up on the table there.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
He thought that it would be such fun
To dump the bottles one by one
And mix the contents when 'twas done.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

Then came the owner of the cot;
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
A powerful enchanter he,
Who, when the naughty boy did see,
Did utter curses wrathfully.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

Young Neville turned to run away,
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
Strange vapors rose around his head,
He choked and gasped, his face turned red,
And then he fell, ah!--seeming dead.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

The smoke cleared slowly from the room.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
No human child could there be seen--
Only a ferret, small and lean,
Crying out with frightment keen.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

The word came swiftly to Hold Tyte
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
Of what the great enchanter'd done
To their obnoxious little son.
They knew their woes had just begun.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

To the enchanter's cot they went.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
They found the boy'd been sent away
That for his mischief he would pay;
They'd not see him for many a day.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

They sought throughout all Atenveldt,
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
From wizard's cave to sorcerer's lair
They searched for Neville everywhere
And came at last to Caerthe fair.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

And finally they found the lad!
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
A white witch had him in her care--
For four long years she'd kept him there;
To break the spell she did not dare.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

De Spencer pled for his son's return.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
But the witch said it would be in vain,
"I fear a ferret he'll remain
Until he learns to use his brain."
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

She brought him out for them to see.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
They looked at him without surprise--
The pointed nose and beady eyes
Would mark him under any guise!
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,

So home they took their wayward son.
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,
And all his relatives do say
They hope a ferret he will stay--
They think him much improved that way!
     Sing hey a way a way-oh,