Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/478
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WANTED—A GOVERNESS.
The owner camo—found out the theft,
And, having scratched his head,
Took up the rope the other left,
And hung himself instead.
And, having scratched his head,
Took up the rope the other left,
And hung himself instead.
The Wager Decided.
Such little hopes I'd always found,
Of gaining Betsy for my wife,
That I had wagered Dick a pound,
I should not win her all my life.
Of gaining Betsy for my wife,
That I had wagered Dick a pound,
I should not win her all my life.
But, thanks to heaven! my anxious care
Is all removed; the knot is tied,
And Betsy—fairest of the fair,
Consents at length to be my bride.
Is all removed; the knot is tied,
And Betsy—fairest of the fair,
Consents at length to be my bride.
To Dick, then, as in honour bound,
Well pleased I hold myself in debt;
Thus, by the oddest luck, 'tis found
I lose my wager—win my bet.
Well pleased I hold myself in debt;
Thus, by the oddest luck, 'tis found
I lose my wager—win my bet.
Wanted—a Governess.
A governess wanted—well fitted to fill
The post of tuition with competent skill—
In a gentleman's family highly genteel.
Superior attainments are quite indispensable,
With everything, too, that's correct and ostensible;
Morals of pure unexceptionability;
Manners well formed, and of strictest gentility.
The pupils are five—ages, six to sixteen—
All as promising girls as ever were seen—
And besides (though 'tis scarcely worth while to put that in)
There is one little boy—but he only learns Latin.
The lady must teach all the several branches
Whereunto polite education now launches:
She's expected to teach the French tongue like a native,
And be to her pupils of all its points dative;
Italian she must know au fond, nor needs banish
Whatever acquaintance she may have with Spanish;
Nor would there be harm in a trifle of German,
In the absence, that is, of the master, Von Hermann.
The harp and piano—cela va sans dire,
The post of tuition with competent skill—
In a gentleman's family highly genteel.
Superior attainments are quite indispensable,
With everything, too, that's correct and ostensible;
Morals of pure unexceptionability;
Manners well formed, and of strictest gentility.
The pupils are five—ages, six to sixteen—
All as promising girls as ever were seen—
And besides (though 'tis scarcely worth while to put that in)
There is one little boy—but he only learns Latin.
The lady must teach all the several branches
Whereunto polite education now launches:
She's expected to teach the French tongue like a native,
And be to her pupils of all its points dative;
Italian she must know au fond, nor needs banish
Whatever acquaintance she may have with Spanish;
Nor would there be harm in a trifle of German,
In the absence, that is, of the master, Von Hermann.
The harp and piano—cela va sans dire,