THE RHYMES OF MISTRESS DOROTHY

Bemauled by ev'ry hurrying churl

And deafened by the city's brawl,

A helm-less craft I helpless swirl

Adown the street.

With battered hat I trip and sprawl

And like a toy tee-to-tum swirl,

To end my strugglings with a fall—

But what care I for knock and whirl?—

Egad! I heed them not at all;

For here comes Dolly—sweetheart girl!—

Adown the street!

The light that lies in Dolly's eyes

Is sun and moon and stars to me;

It dims the splendor of the skies—

The light that lies in Dolly's eyes—

And me-ward shining, testifies

That Dolly's mine, fore'er to be—

The light that lies in Dolly's eyes

Is sun and moon and stars to me!

Oh, Dolly is my treasury—

What more of wealth could I desire?

Her lips are rubies set for me,

And there between (sweet property!)

A string of pearls to smiles conspire;

With Dolly as my treasury,

What more of wealth could I desire?

And when have men of alchemy

Yet dreamed of gems like those I see

In Dolly's eyes, as flashing fire,

They bid the envious world admire?—

Oh, Dolly is my treasury!

What more of wealth could I desire?

And then her hair!—there cannot be

Such gold beyond the Purple Sea

As this of mine—unpriced and free!

Oh, Dolly is my treasury,

My sweetheart and my heart's desire!