“But not another word of this
To anybody’s ears,
The Dame she plays the list’ner,
I have my doubts and fears.
“So let us go upstairs at once,
I think it will be best,
And let us pray to Him above,
Before we go to rest.”
So with a pious countenance,
His prayers as usual said,
But squinting round the room the while,
He spied an empty bed.
“What a pity that these empty stocks
Should be unoccupied;
Do you think my little cousin, Mark,
To them could be denied?”
“’Tis just the very thing,” said Mark,
“Your cousin, sir, and you,
Would carry out my scheme first-rate,
One at each side of Loo.”
The Dame being asked, did not object,
If he could pay the rent,
And had a decent character,
And Louis would consent.
“But I do object to this,” says Loo,
“And on this very ground,
Willie and his cousins, ma’am,
They soon would me surround.
“They’re nothing in my line at all
They are so near a-kin,
And so if I consent to this,
At once they’ll hem me in.”
“Oh! you couldn’t think it, Master Loo,
That I should do you harm,
For don’t I read my testament
And don’t I sing my psalm.”
“’Tis all my eye,” said Louis, “both
Your testament and psalms;
You use the dumbbells regular
To strengthen up your arms.