"Had he been above ground,
He _must_ have been found.
No; doubtless he's shot--or he's hanged--or he's drowned!
Then his widow--ay! ay!
But what will folks say?--
To address her at once, at so early a day.
Well--what then--who cares!--let 'em say what they may."
When a man has decided
As Captain MacBride did,
And once fully made up his mind on the matter, he
Can't be too prompt in unmasking his battery.
He began on the instant, and vowed that her eyes
Far exceeded in brilliance the stars in the skies;
That her lips were like roses, her cheeks were like lilies;
Her breath had the odor of daffadowndillies!--
With a thousand more compliments, equally true,
Expressed in similitudes equally new!
Then his left arm he placed
Round her jimp, taper waist--