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240
A TOUCHING BALLAD.
DESCRIPTIVE OF WOMAN'S FALSEHOOD AND TOO-CONFIDING MAN'S DESTRUCTION.
Poor Sam Brown dearly loved a maid—
Fair Carabella Jones;
He loved her with his heart of hearts,
And with his very bones.
Fair Carabella Jones;
He loved her with his heart of hearts,
And with his very bones.
And twice a week did Sammy go
His Carabel to see;
Neat as a pin from top to toe,
And light of heart, was he.
His Carabel to see;
Neat as a pin from top to toe,
And light of heart, was he.
And Carabella often said,
In tones quite far from sham,
There was n't anywhere a lad
She loved so well as Sam.
In tones quite far from sham,
There was n't anywhere a lad
She loved so well as Sam.
'T was on a night of Saturday,
And Sam was in a mart,
And bought his dear a true-love knot,
To wear upon her heart.
And Sam was in a mart,
And bought his dear a true-love knot,
To wear upon her heart.
“It is n't hardly ten,” said he,
And smiling shook his head,—
“I guess I'll take it up to her,
Afore she goes to bed.”
And smiling shook his head,—
“I guess I'll take it up to her,
Afore she goes to bed.”
241
Straightway he went unto her house,
And fancied her surprise
When this new tribute that he bore
Should sparkle in her eyes;
And fancied her surprise
When this new tribute that he bore
Should sparkle in her eyes;
'T would add unto the brilliant glow
That brightened them before,
And make her heart, just like a well,
With joy to bubble o'er.
That brightened them before,
And make her heart, just like a well,
With joy to bubble o'er.
Softly he stept—said he, “I think
I'll take her unawares;”
He opes the door, and—perfidy!—
How the poor fellow stares!
I'll take her unawares;”
He opes the door, and—perfidy!—
How the poor fellow stares!
There, sitting by the kitchen fire,
Was a tall country chap,
With Carabella Jones, the fair,
A-sitting in his lap!
Was a tall country chap,
With Carabella Jones, the fair,
A-sitting in his lap!
One arm of her'n his neck embraced,
Her cheek lay close to his'n,
While his arm her too willing waist
Most firmly did imprison.
Her cheek lay close to his'n,
While his arm her too willing waist
Most firmly did imprison.
Alas, poor Sam! he tore his hair.
Then left the house forever,
And threw his new-bought true-love knot
Far, far out in the river.
Then left the house forever,
And threw his new-bought true-love knot
Far, far out in the river.
242
His heart was broke, he mourned to find
Her false in whom he 'd trusted;
And soon he took to drinking deep,
And soon he came out busted.
Her false in whom he 'd trusted;
And soon he took to drinking deep,
And soon he came out busted.
Oft passengers, the corners round,
Would see him pensive standing,
His hat drawn down above his eyes,
Each pocket with a hand in;
Would see him pensive standing,
His hat drawn down above his eyes,
Each pocket with a hand in;
And, senseless as the very rock
'Gainst which he was reclining,
All weathers were the same to him,
If raining or if shining.
'Gainst which he was reclining,
All weathers were the same to him,
If raining or if shining.
His form and face, once typical
Of everything that 's jolly,
Seemed changed by elfin power to wear
A marble melancholy.
Of everything that 's jolly,
Seemed changed by elfin power to wear
A marble melancholy.
And stiff they found him, one cold morn,
Upright by that cold corner,
And people sighed to find poor Sam
Had come to be a “goner.”
Upright by that cold corner,
And people sighed to find poor Sam
Had come to be a “goner.”
And Crowner Smith this verdict gave
On the unhappy fellow,
That he had found his early grave
Through rum and Carabella!
On the unhappy fellow,
That he had found his early grave
Through rum and Carabella!
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