"Why, what the deuce does mother want? "I snigs-I daresn't go ; "I shall get funn'd-and then-plague on't "Folks will laugh at me so!" Yankee doodle, &c. "Pho! pho! fix up, a courting go, "To see the deacon's Sarah, "Who'll have a hundred pound, you know, "As soon as she does marry." Yankee doodle, &c. Then Jonathan, in best array, But trembled, sadly, all the way Yankee doodle, &c. * See note, page 39. H He mutter'd as he rode along, And if 'twill gingle in my song, Yankee doodle, &c. "I wonder mother'll make me go, "I never know'd, nor want to know, Yankee doodle, &c. "A wife would make good housen* stuff, "If she were down-right clever, "And Sal would suit me well enough, "If she would let me have her." Yankee doodle, &c. Housen is a corruption for household. "But then, I sha'n't know what to say,* "When we are left together, "I'd rather lie in stack of hay, "In coldest winter weather." Yankee doodle, &c. He reach'd the house, as people say, And Joel hollow'd "in, I say," As soon as he did knock, sir. Yankee doodle, &c. He made of bows, 'twixt two and three, All which were droll enough to see ; You'd think the cramp had caught him. Yankee doodle, &c. * "A courting I went to my love, See an old English comedy. At length came in the deacon's Sal From milking at the barn, sir; And faith she is as good a gal* Ar ever twisted yarn, sir.' Yankee doodle, &c. For she knows all about affairs, Can wash, and bake, and brew,† sir,. Sing "Now I lay me," say her prayers, And make a pudding too, sir. Yankee doodle, &c. To Boston market she has been And many pretty things has seen, Which every one can't brag on. Yankee doodle, &c. * Gal is, in New England, the vulgar pronunciation of the word girl. † Most of the householders, in New England, have their washing, baking, and brewing, done within their own precincts. A young lady, who does not understand these branches of business is considered as not qualified for matrimony. 4 She's courted been, by many a lad, And knows how sparking's done, sir, With Jonathan she was right glad, To have a little fun, sir. Yankee doodle, &c. The ladies all, as I should guess, Would wish to know about her dress; I'll tell them all I can, sir. Yankee doodle, &c. Her wrapper, grey, was not so bad, One stocking on one foot she had, On t'other foot a shoe, sir. Yankee doodle, &c. Now should a Boston lady read, Of Sally's shoe and stocking, She'd say a "monstrous slut, indeed, Oh la !-she is quite shocking!" 2 H Yankee doodle, &c. |