"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" -"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.
- "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks, Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!" -"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.
- "At home in the barton you said 'thee' and 'thou,'
And 'thik oon,' and 'theas oon,' and 't'other'; but now Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" -"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.
- "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak, But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek, And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" -"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.
- "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream, And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" -"True. There's an advantage in ruin," said she.
- "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown, And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" -"My dear--a raw country girl, such as you be, Isn't equal to that. You ain't ruined," said she.
WESTBOURNE PARK VILLAS, 1866
