XLI.THAT OF THE LADIES OF ASCENSION ISLAND.
On the Island of AscensionThere are only ladies ten,The remaining populationBeing officers or men."Dear me!" I hear you saying,"How united they must be!"But in this you'd be mistaken,As you'll very quickly see.For each lady on the IslandThinkssheought to take the leadIn social matters, and on thisThey're not at all agreed.And Mrs. Smith's told Mrs. BrownShe thinks her most absurd,While others cut each other deadAnd don't exchange a word.
On the Island of AscensionThere are only ladies ten,The remaining populationBeing officers or men."Dear me!" I hear you saying,"How united they must be!"But in this you'd be mistaken,As you'll very quickly see.For each lady on the IslandThinkssheought to take the leadIn social matters, and on thisThey're not at all agreed.And Mrs. Smith's told Mrs. BrownShe thinks her most absurd,While others cut each other deadAnd don't exchange a word.
On the Island of AscensionThere are only ladies ten,The remaining populationBeing officers or men."Dear me!" I hear you saying,"How united they must be!"But in this you'd be mistaken,As you'll very quickly see.
On the Island of Ascension
There are only ladies ten,
The remaining population
Being officers or men.
"Dear me!" I hear you saying,
"How united they must be!"
But in this you'd be mistaken,
As you'll very quickly see.
For each lady on the IslandThinkssheought to take the leadIn social matters, and on thisThey're not at all agreed.And Mrs. Smith's told Mrs. BrownShe thinks her most absurd,While others cut each other deadAnd don't exchange a word.
For each lady on the Island
Thinkssheought to take the lead
In social matters, and on this
They're not at all agreed.
And Mrs. Smith's told Mrs. Brown
She thinks her most absurd,
While others cut each other dead
And don't exchange a word.
This state of thing's been going onThey tell me year by year,And the husbands have grown tired of itAs we should do I fear;For connubial felicityIs doomed, if all our livesAre spent in listening to the faultsOf other people's wives.Quite recently a steamer calledFor cinnamon and spice,And her Captain and the officersWere asked for their advice.They gave it promptly. It was this—"'Twere better you agreed,In social matters, just to letTheeldestlady lead."
This state of thing's been going onThey tell me year by year,And the husbands have grown tired of itAs we should do I fear;For connubial felicityIs doomed, if all our livesAre spent in listening to the faultsOf other people's wives.Quite recently a steamer calledFor cinnamon and spice,And her Captain and the officersWere asked for their advice.They gave it promptly. It was this—"'Twere better you agreed,In social matters, just to letTheeldestlady lead."
This state of thing's been going onThey tell me year by year,And the husbands have grown tired of itAs we should do I fear;For connubial felicityIs doomed, if all our livesAre spent in listening to the faultsOf other people's wives.
This state of thing's been going on
They tell me year by year,
And the husbands have grown tired of it
As we should do I fear;
For connubial felicity
Is doomed, if all our lives
Are spent in listening to the faults
Of other people's wives.
Quite recently a steamer calledFor cinnamon and spice,And her Captain and the officersWere asked for their advice.They gave it promptly. It was this—"'Twere better you agreed,In social matters, just to letTheeldestlady lead."
Quite recently a steamer called
For cinnamon and spice,
And her Captain and the officers
Were asked for their advice.
They gave it promptly. It was this—
"'Twere better you agreed,
In social matters, just to let
Theeldestlady lead."
They tried it. But—good gracious!They are worse off than before,For every lady in the placeIs firm upon that score.Impossible it is that ageShall be the final test,For every one insists that sheIs younger than the rest!
They tried it. But—good gracious!They are worse off than before,For every lady in the placeIs firm upon that score.Impossible it is that ageShall be the final test,For every one insists that sheIs younger than the rest!
They tried it. But—good gracious!They are worse off than before,For every lady in the placeIs firm upon that score.Impossible it is that ageShall be the final test,For every one insists that sheIs younger than the rest!
They tried it. But—good gracious!
They are worse off than before,
For every lady in the place
Is firm upon that score.
Impossible it is that age
Shall be the final test,
For every one insists that she
Is younger than the rest!