Page:Poems - Tennyson (1843) - Volume 1 of 2.djvu/241

 She dropt the goose, and caught the pelf, And ran to tell her neighbours; And bless'd herself, and cursed herself, And rested from her labours.

And feeding high, and living soft, Grew plump and able-bodied; Until the grave churchwarden doff'd. The parson smirk'd and nodded.

So sitting, served by man and maid, She felt her heart grow prouder: But ah! the more the white goose laid It clack'd and cackled louder.

It clutter'd here, it chuckled there; It stirr'd the old wife's mettle: She shifted in her elbow-chair, And hurl'd the pan and kettle.