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‹Better GutenbergThe Comic Poems of Thomas HoodMary’s Ghost — A Pathetic Ballad · 153 of 204Contents›

The Comic Poems of Thomas Hood

by Thomas Hood

153 of 204 · Contents · Download EPUB

Mary’s Ghost. — A Pathetic Ballad

I

’Twas in the middle of the night,
  To sleep young William tried,—
When Mary’s ghost came stealing in,
  And stood at his bed-side.

II

O William dear! O William dear!
  My rest eternal ceases;
Alas! my everlasting peace
  Is broken into pieces.

III

I thought the last of all my cares
  Would end with my last minute;
But tho’ I went to my long home,
  I didn’t stay long in it.

IV

The body-snatchers they have come,
  And made a snatch at me;
It’s very hard them kind of men
  Won’t let a body be!

V

You thought that I was buried deep,
  Quite decent like and chary,
But from her grave in Mary-bone
  They’ve come and bon’d your Mary.

VI

The arm that used to take your arm
  Is took to Dr. Vyse;
And both my legs are gone to walk
  The hospital at Guy’s.

VII

I vow’d that you should have my hand,
  But fate gives us denial;
You’ll find it there, at Doctor Bell’s,
  In spirits and a phial.

VIII

As for my feet, the little feet
  You used to call so pretty,
There’s one, I know, in Bedford Row,
  The t’other’s in the city.

IX

I can’t tell where my head is gone,
    But Dr. Carpuc can:
As for my trunk, it’s all pack’d up
  To go by Pickford’s van.

X

I wish you’d go to Mr. P.
  And save me such a ride;
I don’t half like the outside place,
  They’ve took for my inside.

XI

The cock it crows—I must be gone!
  My William, we must part!
But I’ll be your’s in death, altho’
  Sir Astley has my heart.

XII

Don’t go to weep upon my grave,
  And think that there I be;
They haven’t left an atom there
  Of my anatomie.

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