Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature By Charles Mackay |
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BAR THE DOOR. |
 | Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature |  |
253
BAR THE DOOR.
'Tis true, good wife, our gold is scant;
But Discontent is sin,
And there is nothing that we want
That Labour cannot win.
We'll keep the fireside bright at home,
And if the wild winds roar,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
But Discontent is sin,
And there is nothing that we want
That Labour cannot win.
We'll keep the fireside bright at home,
And if the wild winds roar,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
Though neighbour Smith sell dust for spice,
And rob the hedge for tea;
Though Jones's scales, with constant vice,
Make two and two but three,
On wealth acquired by means like these,
However large its store,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
And rob the hedge for tea;
Though Jones's scales, with constant vice,
Make two and two but three,
254
However large its store,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
When Folly knocks and tells its tale
Of sudden fortunes won,
And hints of schemes that cannot fail—
Bright glittering in the sun;
In Folly's face, that cheats itself,
And many a thousand more,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
Of sudden fortunes won,
And hints of schemes that cannot fail—
Bright glittering in the sun;
In Folly's face, that cheats itself,
And many a thousand more,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
When Dodge comes down to bribe our town,
Head-weak, but money-strong,
And fawns and lies, and vainly tries
To prove the right the wrong:
His bribes, his party, and himself,
We'll utterly abhor,
And up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
Head-weak, but money-strong,
And fawns and lies, and vainly tries
To prove the right the wrong:
His bribes, his party, and himself,
We'll utterly abhor,
And up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
255
When asked to quit my own fireside,
To mix in public brawls,
I'll do my work and never shirk,
Though all the parish calls;
Mine own affairs claim all my cares,
And when the town's implore,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
To mix in public brawls,
I'll do my work and never shirk,
Though all the parish calls;
Mine own affairs claim all my cares,
And when the town's implore,
We'll up and bar the door, good wife—
Up and bar the door.
| Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature | |