Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/99

 She was only eighteen, and as fair as could be,
 * With her tempting smiles
 * And maidenly wiles,

And he was a trifle of seventy-three:
 * Now what she could see
 * Is a puzzle to me,

In a buffer of seventy—seventy-three! Of all their acquaintances bidden (or bad)
 * With their loud high jinks
 * And underbred winks

None thought they'd a family have—but they had;
 * A dear little lad
 * Who drove 'em half mad,

For he turned out a horribly fast little cad.

For when he was born he astonished all by,
 * With their "Law, dear me!"
 * "Did ever you see?"

He'd a weed in his mouth and a glass in his eye,
 * A hat all awry—
 * An octagon tie,

And a miniature—miniature glass in his eye.

He grumbled at wearing a frock and a cap,
 * With his "Oh, dear, oh!"
 * And his "Hang it! you know!'" [sic]