“I wouldn’t give a trauneen for all of them. Give me that old green ring on your finger, then.”
“It’s yours,” said Power, placing it gracefully upon Miss Macan’s finger; “and now for your promise.”
“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:—
| “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,
’Twas 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 Mr. O’Brien from Clare,—
How quare,
It’s little for blushing 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 now made 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.
“I insist upon a copy of ‘The Widow,’ Miss Macan,” said Power.
“To be sure; give me a call to-morrow—let me see—about two. Father Magrath won’t be at home,” said she, with a coquettish look.
“Where pray, may I pay my respects?”