Page:A Selection of Original Songs, Scraps, Etc., by Ned Farmer (3rd ed.).djvu/25



A Maiden met with a Gipsy one day,
 * And crossing her palm with a coin,

Said—"Dame, you tell fortunes—at least, so they say—
 * And I wish very much to know mine."

So you shall," said the Gipsy, and taking her hand,
 * Looked stedfastly on it awhile;

You will shortly be tied, dear, in Hymen's silk band"—
 * "But, to whom?" asked the Maid, with a smile.

To one," said the Gipsy, "whose hair is dark brown:
 * His eyes! yes, his eyes are light blue."

What nonsense!" the Maid said, affecting to frown;
 * But she thought, "Well, if this should come true!"

He is tall, and good-looking," continued the Dame,
 * (The Maiden looked monstrous prim!)

And I could, but I will not, reveal his dear name"—
 * Said the Maid, "She must surely mean—him."

The Maiden was happy, and so was the crone,
 * As twinkling her merry dark eye,

She mutter'd, "How vexed she'd have been had she known
 * That the man of her heart was close by!"

So it was—for the Swain that the Sybil foretold
 * Should marry this Maiden so true,

Had hid where alone the old jade could behold;
 * And so her prediction came true!