O slavey, my crock-e-ry!

And I would that my tongue dared utter

The wrath that's astir in me.

O well for the labourer's wife,

Who can wash her own tea-things each day!

O well for the labourer's self,

Who has no servant's wages to pay!

But the breakages here go on,

And I have to settle the bill;

And it's oh! for the shards of my vanished cups,