Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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NAN. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
NAN.
We all know little Nan,
We all love little Nan—
Yes, in spite of her begging and petulant dirt
Which has claims on our notice it should not assert;
For if tiny she's built on a womanly plan,
Though she's often half-dressed and is wholly ungirt;
And she's wilful and lazy
With mischievous moods,
And her notions are hazy
Of other folk's goods;
Yet I'd give her the pick of my treasures and chattels,
To hear for five minutes how sweetly she prattles.
We all love little Nan—
Yes, in spite of her begging and petulant dirt
Which has claims on our notice it should not assert;
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Though she's often half-dressed and is wholly ungirt;
And she's wilful and lazy
With mischievous moods,
And her notions are hazy
Of other folk's goods;
Yet I'd give her the pick of my treasures and chattels,
To hear for five minutes how sweetly she prattles.
We all know little Nan,
We all love little Nan,
Though she comes from Whitechapel and breaths of its air,
And has boots much too big and impossible hair,
And seems packed by mistake in too narrow a span,
For she's bonny in rags and when naughty looks fair;
And if pert she is pleasant
And sweet as a kiss,
While her laugh is a present
That no one would miss;
I am sure no two feet have as pretty a patter,
And wish her dear cheeks would just grow a bit fatter.
We all love little Nan,
Though she comes from Whitechapel and breaths of its air,
And has boots much too big and impossible hair,
And seems packed by mistake in too narrow a span,
For she's bonny in rags and when naughty looks fair;
And if pert she is pleasant
And sweet as a kiss,
While her laugh is a present
That no one would miss;
I am sure no two feet have as pretty a patter,
And wish her dear cheeks would just grow a bit fatter.
We all know little Nan,
We all love little Nan,
Though she never was properly washed since her birth,
And would seem to fine ladies a thing of no worth,
If compared with a pug or a Japanese fan;
But to me she is precious and racy of earth;
Though her conduct is shady
As well as her skin,
I'll bet your fine lady
Sinks deeper in sin;
And I'd greatly prefer a soiled face with affection,
To cleanness which ends and begins in complexion.
We all love little Nan,
Though she never was properly washed since her birth,
And would seem to fine ladies a thing of no worth,
If compared with a pug or a Japanese fan;
But to me she is precious and racy of earth;
Though her conduct is shady
As well as her skin,
I'll bet your fine lady
Sinks deeper in sin;
And I'd greatly prefer a soiled face with affection,
To cleanness which ends and begins in complexion.
We all know little Nan,
We all love little Nan,
With her impudent tongue and her rollicking ways
As she stumbles along in bad courses, and strays
And regardless of rights gathers all that she can—
But she has her good angel at times, when she prays;
If she only had teaching,
Example and love,
She would soon be outreaching
White wings of a dove
To the sunlight and fly from her evil in terror;
She took the wrong turning at first—just in error.
We all love little Nan,
With her impudent tongue and her rollicking ways
As she stumbles along in bad courses, and strays
And regardless of rights gathers all that she can—
But she has her good angel at times, when she prays;
487
Example and love,
She would soon be outreaching
White wings of a dove
To the sunlight and fly from her evil in terror;
She took the wrong turning at first—just in error.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |