When we had an offer for Melbourne,[421] and made up our minds to go.
We’d acted together in England, traveling up and down[422]
With a strolling band of players, going from town to town;
We played the lovers together—we were leading lady and gent—
And at last we played in earnest, and straight[423] to the church we went.
The parson gave us his blessing,[424] and I gave Nellie the ring,[425]
And swore that I’d love and cherish, and endow her with everything.
How we smiled at that part of the service when I said “I thee endow!”
But as to the “love and cherish,” friends, I meant to keep that[426] vow.
We were only a couple of strollers; we had coin when the show was good,