Page:Hodge of the mill, or, An old woman clothed in grey (3).pdf/3

 Then, who is the father of it?

come teil me without more delay:

For now I am juſt in the fit,

to go and hear what he will ſay,

It is Roger, the damſel reply’d,

he call’d me his dear pretty bird,

And ſaid that I ſhould be his bride?

but he was not ſo good as his word.

What! Roger, that lives at the mill,

yes, verily, mother, the ſame,

What! Roger, that lives at the mill!

I’ll hop to him tho’ I'm lame.

Go fetch me my crutches with ſpeed,

and bring me my ſpectacles too,

A lecture to him I will read,

ſhall ring in his cars thro’ and thro’.

With that ſhe went hopping away,

and went to young Hodge of the mill,

On whom ſhe her crutches did lay,

and cry’d you have ruin’d my girl,

By getting her dear maidenhead,

’tis true, you can no way deny;

Therefore I adviſe you to wed,

and make her as honeſt as I.

Then, what will you give me, quoth Hodge,

if I take your daughter by hand,

Will you make me heir of your lodge,

your houſe, your money, and land,