The third "Betty" told her I would act A higher and nobler part; The fourth "Betty" told her I loved her— Loved her with all my heart.
"Ah, well! there's no fool like an old fool," Was what sister Mary said; "No fool in the world like an old fool, You'll find that out, brother Ned."
"Mary," I said, "there's a better thing Than land, or dollar, or dime; If being in love is being a fool Here's one till the end of time."
I should think so, I'm a married man Four years come this Christmastide, And autumn now is flinging her gold O'er the fields on every side.
My wife called out as I drove the cows To the pasture-field this morn, "Ned, please go look for your son and heir, He toddled off in the corn."
And sister Mary must make a joke; "Go find him at once," said she, "You know to get lost in a field of corn Runs in that boy's family."
THE QUARREL.
When Mary found fault with me that day the trouble was well begun. No man likes being found fault with, no man really thinks it fun To have a wisp of a woman, in a most obnoxious way, Allude to his temper as beastly, and remark that day by day He proves himself so careless, so lacking in love, so mean, Then add, with an air convincing, she wishes she'd never seen A person who thinks so little of breaking a woman's heart, And since he is—well, what he is—'tis better that they should part.