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I am sorry to say that she rather took to BLAKE … that outcast of
society； And when respectable brothers who were fond of her began to
look dubious and to cough； She would say； 〃Oh； my friends； it's because I
hope to bring this poor benighted soul back to virtue and propriety； And
besides； the poor benighted soul； with all his faults； was uncommonly well
off。
And when MR。 BLAKE'S dissipated friends called his attention to the
frown or the pout of her； Whenever he did anything which appeared to her
to savour of an unmentionable place； He would say that 〃she would be a
very decent old girl when all that nonsense was knocked out of her；〃 And
his method of knocking it out of her is one that covered him with disgrace。
She was fond of going to church services four times every Sunday； and；
four or five times in the week； and never seemed to pall of them； So he
hunted out all the churches within a convenient distance that had services
at different hours； so to speak； And when he had married her he positively
insisted upon their going to all of them； So they contrived to do about
twelve churches every Sunday； and； if they had luck； from twenty…two to
twenty…three in the course of the week。
She was fond of dropping his sovereigns ostentatiously into the plate；
and she liked to see them stand out rather conspicuously against the
commonplace half…crowns and shillings； So he took her to all the charity
sermons； and if by any extraordinary chance there wasn't a charity sermon
anywhere； he would drop a couple of sovereigns （one for him and one for
her） into the poor…box at the door； And as he always deducted the sums
thus given in charity from the housekeeping money； and the money he
allowed her for her bonnets and frillings； She soon began to find that even
charity； if you allow it to interfere with your personal luxuries； becomes an
intolerable bore。
On Sundays she was always melancholy and anything but good
society； For that day in her household was a day of sighings and sobbings
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
After about three months of this sort of thing； taking the smooth with
the rough of it； （Blacking her own boots and peeling her own potatoes was
not her notion of connubial bliss）； MRS。 BLAKE began to find that she
had pretty nearly had enough of it； And came； in course of time； to think
that BLAKE'S own original line of conduct wasn't so much amiss。
And now that wicked person … that detestable sinner （〃BELIAL
BLAKE〃 his friends and well…wishers call him for his atrocities）； And his
poor deluded victim； whom all her Christian brothers dislike and pity so；
Go to the parish church only on Sunday morning and afternoon and
occasionally on a week…day； and spend their evenings in connubial
fondlings and affectionate reciprocities； And I should like to know where
in the world （or rather； out of it） they expect to go！
59
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
S
VENGEANCE。
WEARY at heart and extremely ill Was PALEY VOLLAIRE of
Bromptonville； In a dirty lodging； with fever down； Close to the Polygon；
Somers Town。
PALEY VOLLAIRE was an only son （For why？ His mother had had
but one）； And PALEY inherited gold and grounds Worth several hundred
thousand pounds。
But he； like many a rich young man； Through this magnificent fortune
ran； And nothing was left for his daily needs But duplicate copies of
mortgage…deeds。
Shabby and sorry and sorely sick； He slept； and dreamt that the clock's
〃tick； tick；〃 Was one of the Fates； with a long sharp knife； Snicking off bits
of his shortened life。
He woke and counted the pips on the walls； The outdoor passengers'
loud footfalls； And reckoned all over； and reckoned again； The little white
tufts on his counterpane。
A medical man to his bedside came。 （I can't remember that doctor's
name）； And said； 〃You'll die in a very short while If you don't set sail for
Madeira's isle。〃
〃Go to Madeira？ goodness me！ I haven't the money to pay your fee！〃
〃Then； PALEY VOLLAIRE；〃 said the leech； 〃good bye； I'll come no more；
for your're sure to die。〃
He sighed and he groaned and smote his breast； 〃Oh； send；〃 said he；
〃for FREDERICK WEST； Ere senses fade or my eyes grow dim： I've a
terrible tale to whisper him！〃
Poor was FREDERICK'S lot in life； … A dustman he with a fair young
wife； A worthy man with a hard…earned store； A hundred and seventy
pounds … or more。
FREDERICK came； and he said； 〃Maybe You'll say what you
happened to want with me？〃 〃Wronged boy；〃 said PALEY VOLLAIRE； 〃I
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
THE TERRIBLE TALE。
〃'Tis now some thirty…seven years ago Since first began the plot that
I'm revealing； A fine young woman； whom you ought to know； Lived with
her husband down in Drum Lane； Ealing。 Herself by means of mangling
reimbursing； And now and then （at intervals） wet…nursing。
〃Two little babes dwelt in their humble cot： One was her own … the
other only lent to her： HER OWN SHE SLIGHTED。 Tempted by a lot Of
gold and silver regularly sent to her； She ministered unto the little other In
the capacity of foster…mother。
〃I WAS HER OWN。 Oh！ how I lay and sobbed In my poor cradle deeply；
deeply cursing The rich man's pampered bantling； who had robbed
My only birthright … an attentive nursing！ Sometimes in hatred of my
foster…brother； I gnashed my gums … which terrified my mother。
〃One day … it was quite early in the week … I IN MY CRADLE
HAVING PLACED THE BANTLING … Crept into his！ He had not learnt
to speak； But I could see his face with anger mantling。 It was imprudent well；
disgraceful maybe； For； oh！ I was a bad； blackhearted baby！
〃So great a luxury was food； I think No wickedness but I was game to
try for it。 NOW if I wanted anything to drink At any time； I only had to cry
for it！ ONCE； if I dared to weep； the bottle lacking； My blubbering
involved a serious smacking！
〃We grew up in the usual way …my friend； My foster…brother； daily
growing thinner； While gradually I began to mend； And thrived amazingly
on double dinner。 And every one； besides my foster…mother； Believed that
either of us was the other。
〃I came into HIS wealth … I bore HIS name； I bear it still … HIS
property I squandered … I mortgaged everything … and now （oh； shame！）
Into a Somers Town shake…down I've wandered！ I am no PALEY … no；
VOLLAIRE … it's true； my boy！ The only rightful PALEY V。 is YOU； my
boy！
〃And all I have is yours … and yours is mine。 I still may place you in
your true position： Give me the pounds you've saved； and I'll resign My
noble name； my rank； and my condition。 So far my wickedness in falsely
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
* * * * * * *
FREDERICK he was a simple soul； He pulled from his pocket a bulky
roll； And gave to PALEY his