My guests all wait my coming, mate,
So I must hasten in.”
He takes me by the button-hole,
“There was a stream,” quoth he.
“Be off, you maudlin fool!” I cried.
“Just list a while,” said he.
“This stream so near was always clear,
And hardly ’een a drop
Of ‘Father Thames’ was foul afore
Them barges plied atop.