Miscellaneous poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

“Who'll buy a nosegay? cried a sweet child,
An orphan left wretched and poor;
Here's roses, and pinks, and sweet briar wild;
And Heaven will bless you thrice o'er.”
Do pray buy my roses, indeed they're not dear,
Each bud shall be moistened with gratitude's tear.

Hard! hard! is my fate, my father is dead,
He fell in the nation's defence;
Those friends who once courted our favour are fled,
And prov'd all their friendship pretence.
Do pray buy my roses, indeed they're not dear,
Each bud shall be moistened with gratitude's tear.

197

My mother was by, when by brave father fell;
The bullet, which robb'd him of life,
Sunk deep in the bosom which lov'd him so well,
And murder'd the health of his wife.
Doth pray buy my roses, indeed they're not dear,
Each bud shall be moistened with gratitude's tear.

Do pray buy my roses, for hard is my fate;
My parents to heaven are fled;
Bestow then a trifle before 'tis too late,
My poor little sisters want bread.
Do pray buy my roses, indeed they're not dear,
Each bud shall be moistened with gratitude's tear.

The first verse is the same as the original song.