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MARY’S GHOST
'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.
O William dear! O William dear!
My rest eternal ceases;
Alas! my everlasting peace
Is broken into pieces.
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.
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!
You thought that I was buried deep
Quite decent like and chary,
But from her grave in Mary-bone
They’ve come and boned your Mary.
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.
I vow’d that you should have my hand,
But fate gives us denial;
You’ll find it there, at Dr. Bell’s
In spirits and a phial.
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.
I can’t tell where my head is gone,
But Doctor Carpue can:
As for my trunk, it’s all pack’d up
To go by Pickford’s van.*
I wished 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.
The cock it crows - I must begone!
My William we must part!
But I’ll be yours in death, altho’
Sir Astley has my heart.**
Don’t go to weep upon my grave,
And think that there I be;
They haven’t left an atom there
Of my anatomie.
*Pickford’s removals business was established in the 17th century.
**Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 1st Baronet 1768–1841 was a famous English surgeon and anatomist
Thomas Hood was an English poet, author and humorist who contributed regularly to The London Magazine and Punch. He was the father of playwright and humorist Tom Hood 1835-74.
A new Art Blog begins on Monday 16th November
THE PAINTINGS OF CLAUDE MONET
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