 | Poems Chiefly Lyric and Elegiac |  |
81
A REFUSAL.
Sir, my hands are hard, she said,
But they do very well for me:
They are spread wi' work, they are rough and red,
Like a servant's hands should be.
But they do very well for me:
They are spread wi' work, they are rough and red,
Like a servant's hands should be.
Oh, they suit uncommon well,
Both me and my Missis too!
But feel 'em once, an' you'll easy tell
As they'd never do for you.
Both me and my Missis too!
But feel 'em once, an' you'll easy tell
As they'd never do for you.
You want a lady's hand,
What is soft and white and small;
And fingers wi' rings, to look pretty an' grand
In the parlours up at the Hall.
What is soft and white and small;
And fingers wi' rings, to look pretty an' grand
In the parlours up at the Hall.
82
That's the sort o' hand you want—
An' I lay you'll come to it soon;
For there's some as can, if there's many as can't,
An' yourn is a 'ticing tune.
An' I lay you'll come to it soon;
For there's some as can, if there's many as can't,
An' yourn is a 'ticing tune.
You can 'tice the heart of a maid—
Aye, even a heart like mine,
As canna keep up wi' the things you've said,
By reason you talk so fine.
Aye, even a heart like mine,
As canna keep up wi' the things you've said,
By reason you talk so fine.
But I winna be brought to shame,
Nor I winna bring shame to none:
I ha' naught to give but a honest name,
An' a day's work thoroughly done:
Nor I winna bring shame to none:
I ha' naught to give but a honest name,
An' a day's work thoroughly done:
So you'd better by half turn back,
An' leave me an' let me be:
I shall lose my place, I shall get the sack,
If you keep on courting o' me!
An' leave me an' let me be:
I shall lose my place, I shall get the sack,
If you keep on courting o' me!
| Poems Chiefly Lyric and Elegiac | |