 | Rhymes of our planet |  |
26
BRIDGET O'SHAMUS
Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town,
Stood on her stoop, as the sun went down,
Shooting a glance at the mansions nigh,
Several elegant stories high:
“Look at these come!” she was heard to say,
“Crowdin' ould risidents out o' the way,
Callin' us squatters, an' more things bad,
Treatin' us worse than the geese, bedad;
Mary McFarlan, an' Barney O'Quinn,
Jimmy an' Johnny an' Patsey McGlynn,
Had their estates right on to the land
Where the inhabited brick-yards stand.
“Niver will I give up my groun'!”
Said Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
Stood on her stoop, as the sun went down,
Shooting a glance at the mansions nigh,
Several elegant stories high:
“Look at these come!” she was heard to say,
“Crowdin' ould risidents out o' the way,
Callin' us squatters, an' more things bad,
Treatin' us worse than the geese, bedad;
Mary McFarlan, an' Barney O'Quinn,
Jimmy an' Johnny an' Patsey McGlynn,
Had their estates right on to the land
Where the inhabited brick-yards stand.
“Niver will I give up my groun'!”
Said Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
Bridget despatched, at sharp sunrise,
Lightning out of her tongue and eyes:
“What are ye meanin', ye men,” said she,
“Pointin' your shovels an' picks at me?
Who are you, this wid the buttermilk hands,
Tryin' to bugle me out o' my lands?
Sure I have owned thim many a year—
Purchasin' iverything that's here;
Paid five dollars in cash, I did,
Three fat ducks, an' a goat an' kid;
While the proprietor, wid a grin,
Offered to throw his own silf in;
But I'd not marry Paddy Brown,”
Sneered Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
Lightning out of her tongue and eyes:
29
“Pointin' your shovels an' picks at me?
Who are you, this wid the buttermilk hands,
Tryin' to bugle me out o' my lands?
Sure I have owned thim many a year—
Purchasin' iverything that's here;
Paid five dollars in cash, I did,
Three fat ducks, an' a goat an' kid;
While the proprietor, wid a grin,
Offered to throw his own silf in;
But I'd not marry Paddy Brown,”
Sneered Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
Bridget, as first-class evils, shied
Household goods at the men outside:
Flung with thorougher hate than heed,
Things that she did and did not need.
Threw her table, and threw her chairs,
Also most of her earthen wares;
Sent outside, to increase the fun,
Griddles and stove-legs, one by one.
“Shame!” she shouted, again and again,
“Shame on ye all, ye great big men!
Skirmish around, as long as ye please;
I'll niver move out for the likes of yez!”
“Ye've moved already!” moaned Paddy Brown:
“Look at the duds here, lyin' roun'!”
Household goods at the men outside:
Flung with thorougher hate than heed,
Things that she did and did not need.
Threw her table, and threw her chairs,
Also most of her earthen wares;
Sent outside, to increase the fun,
Griddles and stove-legs, one by one.
“Shame!” she shouted, again and again,
“Shame on ye all, ye great big men!
Skirmish around, as long as ye please;
I'll niver move out for the likes of yez!”
30
“Look at the duds here, lyin' roun'!”
Bridget O'Shamus, as if on wings,
Flew to regain her household things;
And as she came, she was heard to cry,
“Never go out o' this house will I!”
“Ye've gone already!” moaned Paddy Brown;
“Look at 'em tearin' yer shanty down;
See the policeman standin' here,
Biddin' ye never more go near!”
Feminine-like, she turned, to rend
With his own love her warmest friend:
“Oh, ye can stand an' see it done;
But I'll be payin' ye, ten to one:
For now I must marry ye, Paddy Brown!”
Yelled Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
Flew to regain her household things;
And as she came, she was heard to cry,
“Never go out o' this house will I!”
“Ye've gone already!” moaned Paddy Brown;
“Look at 'em tearin' yer shanty down;
See the policeman standin' here,
Biddin' ye never more go near!”
Feminine-like, she turned, to rend
With his own love her warmest friend:
“Oh, ye can stand an' see it done;
But I'll be payin' ye, ten to one:
For now I must marry ye, Paddy Brown!”
Yelled Bridget O'Shamus, of Shanty-town.
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