BETA

Mr. Bull’s Song.

The Sly Little Man.

There’s a sly little man that lives over the way,1
Who always has something quite civil to say :2
Yet he looks at my house, from his own, with an eye3
That says, “ I perhaps may look in by-and-by :”4
So I think my best plan5
With the sly little man6
Is to make all the premises safe, if I can.7
I have not the least doubt he would think it no sin,8
Any night that he thought me asleep, to “ look in ;”9
There’s “ the old pewter spoons,” and “ the old tankard too,10
And the sword o’er the mantelpiece, marked “ Waterloo ”—11
And it’s clearly the plan12
Of the sly little man13
To take them all from me—whenever he can.14
So my doors and my windows I’ve bolted and barr’d,15
And the truest of watch-dogs takes care of the Yard16
A watch-dog of whom I, his master, will say,17
Woe betide the house-breaker that comes in his way ! ”18
For really the plan19
Of the sly little man20
Is one I must foil if I possibly can.21
No doubt he will say, as in fact he has said,22
What fancy is this that’s come into your head ?23
Your House once was open ; it surely can’t be24
That all this is meant for a kind friend like me ?25
But then it’s the plan26
Of the sly little man ;27
To deal much in blarney wherever he can.28
There’s one of the Scullions, a fellow in drab,29
An impudent tyke, with the gift of the gab,30
Who often will say, “ Is it not a hard case31
That our door should be shut in the gentleman’s face ?32
’Twould be far the best plan33
To trust to the man34
No fear of our losing a pot or a pan !”35
But the views of the Scullion I own are not mine,36
And still to the bolts and the bars I incline ;37
Nay, I should not much care if my neighbours all knew38
That I’ve lately been getting a rifle or two ;39
That’s my simple plan40
With the sly little man ;41
And so, he may now take the spoons—if he can.42