From their homes in the West to the City went down,
Each thought on the woman whom he loved best,
And said “shall I bring her to-night a gown?”
For men must work and women must dress,
Though it sometimes comes hard on the husband, I guess,
And gives rise to much grief and moaning.
Three wives sat up in a lady’s bower,
And each trimmed the dress that was brought from town,
Fixing here a ribbon, and there a flower;
And said one “’Twill look well trimmed with Bismarck brown,”