Part 4 (1/2)
”Oh, father,” little Alice cried, ”your kindness makes me weep, You do these little things for me so singularly cheap-- Your thoughtful liberality I never can forget; But, oh, there is another crime I haven't mentioned yet!
”A pleasant-looking gentleman, with pretty purple eyes-- I've noticed at my window as I've sat a-catching flies; He pa.s.ses by it every day as certain as can be-- I blush to say I've winked at him, and he has winked at me!”
”For shame,” said Father Paul, ”my erring daughter! On my word This is the most distressing news that I have ever heard.
Why, naughty girl, your excellent papa has pledged your hand To a promising young robber, the lieutenant of his band!
”This dreadful piece of news will pain your worthy parents so!
They are the most remunerative customers I know; For many, many years they've kept starvation from my doors, I never knew so criminal a family as yours!
”The common country folk in this insipid neighborhood Have nothing to confess, they're so ridiculously good; And if you marry any one respectable at all, Why, you'll reform, and what will then become of Father Paul?”
The worthy priest, he up and drew his cowl upon his crown, And started off in haste to tell the news to Robber Brown; To tell him how his daughter, who was now for marriage fit, Had winked upon a sorter, who reciprocated it.
Good Robber Brown he m.u.f.fled up his anger pretty well, He said, ”I have a notion, and that notion I will tell; I will nab this gay young sorter, terrify him into fits, And get my gentle wife to chop him into little bits.
”I've studied human nature, and I know a thing or two; Though a girl may fondly love a living gent, as many do, A feeling of disgust upon her senses there will fall When she looks upon his body chopped particularly small.”
He traced that gallant sorter to a still suburban square; He watched his opportunity and seized him unaware; He took a life-preserver and he hit him on the head, And Mrs. Brown dissected him before she went to bed.
And pretty little Alice grew more settled in her mind, She never more was guilty of a weakness of the kind, Until at length good Robber Brown bestowed her pretty hand On the promising young robber, the lieutenant of his band.
[_W.S. Gilbert_
EMILY, JOHN, JAMES, AND I
A Derby Legend
Emily Jane was a nursery maid-- James was a bold Life Guard, And John was constable, poorly paid (And I am a doggerel bard).
A very good girl was Emily Jane, Jimmy was good and true, And John was a very good man in the main (And I am a good man, too).
Rivals for Emmie were Johnny and James, Though Emily liked them both; She couldn't tell which had the strongest claims (And I couldn't take my oath).
But sooner or later you're certain to find Your sentiments can't lie hid-- Jane thought it was time that she made up her mind (And I think it was time she did).
Said Jane, with a smirk and a blush on her face, ”I'll promise to wed the boy Who takes me to-morrow to Epsom Race!”
(Which I would have done, with joy).
From Johnny escaped an expression of pain, But Jimmy said, ”Done with you!
I'll take you with pleasure, my Emily Jane!”
(And I would have said so too).
Johnny lay on the ground, and he roared like mad (For Johnny was sore perplexed), And he kicked very hard at a very small lad (Which I often do, when vexed).