And sometimes he'd explain to her, which charmed her very much,

How famous operators vary very much in touch,

And then, perhaps, he'd show how he himself performed the trick,

And illustrate his meaning with a poppy and a stick.

Or, if it rained, the little maid would stop at home, and look

At his favourable notices, all pasted in a book,

And then her cheek would flush—her swimming eyes would dance with joy

In a glow of admiration at the prowess of her boy.