Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | IV. Wooing and Winning | | How to Ask and Have | | Samuel Lover (1797–1868) |
| | | “OH, ’t is time I should talk to your mother, | |
| Sweet Mary,” says I. | |
| “Oh, don’t talk to my mother,” says Mary, | |
| Beginning to cry: | |
| “For my mother says men are deceivers, | 5 |
| And never, I know, will consent; | |
| She says girls in a hurry who marry | |
| At leisure repent.” | |
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| “Then suppose I would talk to your father, | |
| Sweet Mary,” says I. | 10 |
| “Oh, don’t talk to my father,” says Mary, | |
| Beginning to cry: | |
| “For my father, he loves me so dearly, | |
| He ’ll never consent I should go— | |
| If you talk to my father,” says Mary, | 15 |
| “He ’ll surely say ‘No.’” | |
| |
| “Then how shall I get you, my jewel? | |
| Sweet Mary,” says I. | |
| “If your father and mother ’s so cruel, | |
| Most surely I ’ll die!” | 20 |
| “Oh, never say die, dear,” says Mary: | |
| “A way now to save you I see: | |
| Since my parents are both so contrary— | |
| You ’d better ask me.” | | | | |
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