“You are plain, Mr. Biggar,” the maiden cried,

“Though your hair has not yet turned to grey;

But you’re nice Mr. Biggar, a sensible man,

Why not marry me, Joseph, I pray?”

“In the days of my youth,” Mr. Biggar replied,

“The marital rocks I steered past,

And carefully kept myself free from the knot,

That I ne’er might repent it at last.”

“You’re not young, Mr. Biggar,” the maiden cried,

“And the troubles of age creep apace;