’Tis very strange, (yet so it is,)
    That vows should go for naught. 
  But she who strove to ’scape love’s toils
    Quite unawares was caught!

  For though so hard to Snip at first,
    At last it chanced that she
  A sort of soft emotion felt
    Towards one Timothy,

  A butcher—­Green by name, but red
    In face, as was his cap,
  And though he seldom tasted wine,
    A port-ly sort of chap.

  This man one day in passing by,
    In taste for what she’d got,
  Saw Biddy’s stall—­and ’twas her fate
    To sell to him a lot!

  She thought his manners very sweet,
    He gave so fond a gaze;
  (But dashing blades of such like trades
    Have ever killing ways!)

  And whilst he paid the coppers down,
    He had the brass to say
  Her fruit was sweet, but sweeter still
    The apple of her eye.

  Besides all this, he looked so neat
    Whilst shouldering his tray;
  So what with steel, et cetera,
    Her heart was stole away!

  Lo! shortly after both agreed,
    They fixed the wedding day,
  But long before that day arriv’d
    He took to stop away!

  From that same time her peace of mind
    And comfort were at steak—­
  She did so lean to Mr. Green,
    Her heart was like to break!

  At last she went one morn to see
    What he could be about,
  And hoped, alone, to find him in,
    But he had just popt out.

  She ax’d, “Is Mr. Green at home?”
    Of one who, with a laugh,
  Replied, “He’s not! but if you please
    I’ll fetch his better half.”

  “His what?” scarce uttered Bridget out,
    With uttermost dismay;
  And there she stopt, she could no more,
    And nearly swoon’d away!

  But when at length she was herself,
    And saw her faithless clown. 
  She straightway went to blow him up,
    But got a good set down!

  “Oh, cold and faithless Tim,” quoth she,
    “You vowed you couldn’t smother
  Your burning love for me, but now
    You’re married to another!”

  “Is this the way you treat me, sir? 
    Too cheaply was I bought! 
  I loved you dearly, but it seems
    That that all went for naught.”

  She sighed, and gave one parting look,
    Then tore herself away
  From her false swain and Mrs. Green,
    For ever and a day!

  And very soon got very ill,
    And very quick did die,
  And very truly verified
    Her love for Timothy!

W.R.H.