.

But worn't I main happy, and well nigh a crazy,
When I heard her her say "Yes," blushin' sweet as a daisy!
We was axed in the church--no one dared to say nay;
So The Rector he spliced us, one fine soommer day.

My Poll wor a steady young gal, and a good 'un
For washin' and scrubbin', and makin' a pudden;
Not one o them gossiping gals, wot I hate,
But a quoietish 'ooman, wi' brains in her pate.

But soom how or other things didn't go right;
There wasn't atwixt us no manner o' spite;
But I stayed out o' Saturdays nights, and I fear
Spent more nor I'd ought on my baccy and beer.

And Poll she look'd sadly, but didn't say nought;
She was one as 'ud allers say less than she thought;
But I know'd what she thought--so a cloud kind o' come,
And darkened the sun as once shone in our home,

But it come to a pass--'twas the fifth o' November,
The day and the year I shall allers remember:
Twas midnight and past when I come to my door,
Scarce able to stan'--well, I won't say no more?

Next mornin' my head it wor well nigh a splitten,
And I stagger'd and stagger'd, as weak as a kitten;
But the wust of it all wor the dressin' I got
From Polly--oh, worn't it main spicy and hot?

What she said I won't tell you; but you married men,
As knows wot it is to be pecked by a hen,
Wot I means yer to guess pretty plainish 'ull find,
When I tells you she gone me "a bit of her mind."

And now I'm as sober as sober can be,
And me and my Poll, as we sits down to tea,
Don't care very far of an evenin' to roam--
We're allers so jolly contented at home.

I wears no blue ribbon outside o' my coat,
For a pint o' good ale seems to freshen my throat;
But offer me more and I'm bound to refuse it--
For my Poll's got a tongue, and her knows how to use it.

So I takes just a pint, when there's coppers to spare--
A pint wi' your dinner ain't no great affair--
But the time' o' the day as suits Polly and me,
Is when we sits down of an evenin' to tea.

For the young 'uns sits round us all smilin' and clean;
And Sally knits stockings wot's fit for the Queen;
Little Bill reads a book, and Jemima she sews,
And how happy our home is the parish all knows.

* * * * * *

Now young men and maids, if ye'll listen to me,
I'll give you some counsel all gratis and free--
Young men if you want to be happy in life,
Remember