“May be my brother might not like it.”
“He’d be delighted,” said Power; “he dotes on music.”
“Does he now?”
“On my honor, he does.”
“Well, mind you get up a good chorus, for the song has one, and here it is.”
“Miss Macan’s song!” said Power, tapping the table with his knife.
“Miss Macan’s song!” was re-echoed on all sides; and before the luckless general could interfere, she had begun. How to explain the air I know not, for I never heard its name; but at the end of each verse a species of echo followed the last word that rendered it irresistibly ridiculous.
THE WIDOW MALONE.
Did ye hear of the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
Who lived in the town of Athlone,
Alone?
Oh, she melted the hearts
Of the swains in them parts,
So lovely the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
So lovely the Widow Malone.
Of lovers she had a full score,
Or more;
And fortunes they all had galore,
In store;
From the minister down
To the clerk of the crown,
All were courting the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
All were courting the Widow Malone.
But so modest was Mrs. Malone,
‘T was known
No one ever could see her alone,
Ohone!
Let them ogle and sigh,
They could ne’er catch her eye,
So bashful the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
So bashful the Widow Malone.
Till one Mister O’Brien from Clare,
How quare!
It’s little for blushin’ they care
Down there;
Put his arm round her waist,
Gave ten kisses at laste,
“Oh,” says he, “you’re my Molly Malone,
My own;
Oh,” says he, “you’re my Molly Malone.”
And the widow they all thought so shy,
My eye!
Ne’er thought of a simper or sigh,
For why?
But “Lucius,” says she,
“Since you’ve made now so free,
You may marry your Mary Malone,
Ohone!
You may marry your Mary Malone.”
There’s a moral contained in my song,
Not wrong;
And one comfort it’s not very long,
But strong;
If for widows you die,
Larn to kiss, not to sigh,
For they’re all like sweet Mistress Malone,
Ohone!
Oh, they’re very like Mistress Malone.
Never did song create such a sensation as Miss Macan’s; and certainly her desires as to the chorus were followed to the letter, for “The Widow Malone, ohone!” resounded from one end of the table to the other, amidst one universal shout of laughter. None could resist the ludicrous effect of her melody; and even poor Sir George, sinking under the disgrace of his relationship, which she had contrived to make public by frequent allusions to her “dear brother the general,” yielded at last, and joined in the mirth around him.
“I insist upon a copy of ‘The Widow,’ Miss Macan,” said Power.