"Now Mrs. Brown was clever—a good, well-meaning soul—
And brought to time exactly things under her control.
By very few misgoings were her perfections marred;
She meant well, with one trouble—she meant it 'most too hard.
"Now when I had passed the time o' day, and laughed at Brown's last jokes,
Nat'rally I asked 'em if they had seen my folks.
Whereat she shrugged her shoulders quite dangerous-wise,
And looked as if a jury was sittin' in her eyes;
And after a prudent silence I thought would never end,
Asked if my wife had a brother, or cousin, or other friend;