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I, it's a funny world! This mornin' when I woke I saw red robin on the fence, an' heard the words he spoke. Red robin, he's a perky chap, an' this was his refrain: "Dear, it's a pity that poor Jenny is so plain."

To talk like that about his wife! It had me scandalized. I'd heard him singin' so before, but never recognized The meaning of his chatter, or that he could be so vain: "Dear, it's a pity that poor Jenny is so plain."

I don't know how, I don't know why, but this reminded me I was promised to the widow for this Sunday night to tea. I'd promised her for weeks an' weeks, until she pinned me down. I recollects this is the day, an' gets up with a frown.

I was thinkin' of the widow while I gets me clobber on— Like a feller will start thinkin' of the times that's past an' gone. An', while my thoughts is runnin' so, that bird chips in again : "Dear, it's a pity that poor Jenny is so plain."