Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems by the late Thomas Haynes Bayly; Edited by his Widow. With A Memoir of the Author. In Two Volumes |
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CHICK WEEDS. |
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 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
47
CHICK WEEDS.
I
“My dear, stay here! I'm quite in fear,Unless you all keep very near;
My group's a little bit too large;
Nine daughters are so great a charge:
And though I know, where'er we go,
The people think us quite a show;
They say—(I hate satiric tricks)
Look at the hen and her nine chicks!
II
“Oh! there's Sir Charles; I'm certain heWill wed one of the family;
And should he choose, let none refuse,
He's not at all the match to lose.
No wonder that he can't decide
Which daughter shall become his bride.
My charming girls, I'm bound to say,
Are all so perfect in their way.
III
“Don't stoop like that, my sweetest Rose;Maria, dear, turn out your toes;
It gives me pain, my angel Jane,
To see your squint come back again!
Ann, what can make your nose so red?
Constantia, do hold up your head;
I wish Kate's ancles weren't so thick;
Bess, keep your mouth shut, there's a chick!
IV
“How are you, dear Sir Charles? so near—Your praises did you overhear?
All female hearts you seem to touch;
My sweet girls praise you over much:
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Has looked a leetle pale of late—
Nay, now so red! why whisper ‘Hush!’
What have I said to make her blush?
V
“You'll come to tea, Sir Charles? you'll seeA most harmonious family.
Bess plays the lute, Ann the guitar,
Jane learns the harp of sweet Labarre;
Rose and Maria, if they're prest,
Make use of Broadwood's very best;
Constantia sings, indeed we all
Love music. You are musical?”
VI
“I'm musical,” Sir Charles replied,And took his hat, and hem'd, and sigh'd;
“I'm musical, and charmed to view
Such harmony. Dear Ma'am, adieu.
Oh what an orchestra for me,
Could I wed all the family.
Farewell—temptation let me shun,
'Twould spoil the band to marry one.”
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |