Smooth back your brown curls , Annie ; and let me tie on your bonnet , and we will set forth ! What a strange couple to go on their rambles together ! One walks in black attire , with a measured step , and a heavy brow , and his thoughtful eyes bent down , while the gay little girl trips lightly along , as if she were forced to keep hold of my hand , lest her feet should dance away from the earth . Yet there is sympathy between us . If I pride myself on anything , it is because I have a smile that children love ; and , on the other hand , there are few grown ladies that could entice me from the side of little Annie ; for I delight to let my mind go hand in hand with the mind of a sinless child . So , come , Annie ; but if I moralize as we go , do not listen to me ; only look about you , and be merry ! Now we turn the corner . Here are hacks with two horses , and stage-coaches with four , thundering to meet each other , and trucks and carts moving at a slower pace , being heavily laden with barrels from the wharves , and here are rattling gigs , which perhaps will be smashed to pieces before our eyes . Hitherward , also , comes a man trundling a wheelbarrow along the pavement . Is not little Annie afraid of such a tumult ? No ; she does not even shrink closer to my side , but passes on with fearless confidence , a happy child amidst a great throng of grown people , who pay the same reverence to her infancy that they would to extreme old age . Nobody jostles her ; all turn aside to make way for little Annie ; and , what is most singular , she appears conscious of her claim to such respect . Now her eyes brighten with pleasure ! A street-musician has seated himself on the steps of yonder church , and pours forth his strains to the busy town , a melody that has gone astray among the tramp of footsteps , the buzz of voices , and the war of passing wheels . Who heeds the poor organ-grinder ? None but myself and little Annie , whose feet begin to move in unison with the lively tune , as if she were loath that music should be wasted without a dance . But where would Annie find a partner ? Some have the gout in their toes , or the rheumatism in their joints ; some are stiff with age ; some feeble with disease ; some are so lean that their bones would rattle , and others of such ponderous size that their agility would crack the flagstones ; but many , many have leaden feet , because their hearts are far heavier than lead . It is a sad thought that I have chanced upon . What a company of dancers should we be !
For I , too , am a gentleman of sober footsteps , and therefore , little Annie , let us walk sedately XXXXX .
along as at from if of on that to with