Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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| JOHN CLODD. |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
146
JOHN CLODD.
John Clodd was greatly troubled in his mind,But reason for the same could noways find.
Says he, “I'll go to Mary; I've no doubt,
If any mortal can, she'll vind it out.”
“Why, John, what is the matter? where dost ail?
In 'ead or stummick! eh, thou dost look pale.
Can't ait? can't sleep? yet nayther sick nor sore?
Ne'er felt the like in all thy life afore?
Why, lad, I'll tell 'ee what,—thou beest in love.”
John look'd at Mary, gave his hat a shove,
And rubb'd his chin awhile, and mutter'd “There!
Only to think o' that!”—then from a stare
Broke by degrees into a smile, half-witted,
“Dang! Mary, I don't know but what you've hit it!
I thought on no sich thing, but now I see.
'Tis plain as haystack. Yaas, in love I be!
But who be I in love wi', Mary? Come!”
“Why, can't yo' tell that, John? Art blind, or dumb?
Is't Emma White? or Liz? or Dora Peak?
Or pirty little Sue? or Widow Sleek?
Or Tilda Rudlip, now? or Martha's Jane?
Or Squire's new Dairymaid? or old Miss Blaine,
Wi' lots o' money? Don't be angry, John,
I've guess'd all round,—you hates 'em every one?
Still, you loves zumbody . . . Mayhap 'tis me?”
“Why, Mary, what a clever lass you be!
I never once took thought on such a thing;
But you it is, and no one else, by Jing!”
“Well, John, that's settled; so ‘Good-night’ at last.”
“No, Mary, don'tee run away so fast!
What next are we to do?”
And rubb'd his chin awhile, and mutter'd “There!
Only to think o' that!”—then from a stare
Broke by degrees into a smile, half-witted,
“Dang! Mary, I don't know but what you've hit it!
I thought on no sich thing, but now I see.
'Tis plain as haystack. Yaas, in love I be!
But who be I in love wi', Mary? Come!”
“Why, can't yo' tell that, John? Art blind, or dumb?
Is't Emma White? or Liz? or Dora Peak?
Or pirty little Sue? or Widow Sleek?
Or Tilda Rudlip, now? or Martha's Jane?
Or Squire's new Dairymaid? or old Miss Blaine,
Wi' lots o' money? Don't be angry, John,
I've guess'd all round,—you hates 'em every one?
Still, you loves zumbody . . . Mayhap 'tis me?”
“Why, Mary, what a clever lass you be!
I never once took thought on such a thing;
But you it is, and no one else, by Jing!”
“Well, John, that's settled; so ‘Good-night’ at last.”
“No, Mary, don'tee run away so fast!
What next are we to do?”
“What next? O bother!
Get married, I suppose, sometime or other.”
“Right, lass, again! I niver thought o' that.
How do'ee iver vind out things so pat?
But stop a minute, Mary,—tell me how
Does folk—. . . She's off! I'm fairly puzzled now!”
Get married, I suppose, sometime or other.”
“Right, lass, again! I niver thought o' that.
How do'ee iver vind out things so pat?
But stop a minute, Mary,—tell me how
Does folk—. . . She's off! I'm fairly puzzled now!”
| Life and Phantasy | |