Oh, joyful, happy day!
Now I will show the way

How I got in this pickle.

I was not born dark and hairy,

But got done brown by a fairy—
A little jealous creature,

Who wanted me to marry,

But I her charms did parry ;

Revenge was her strong feature.
I'd seen you, Maggy darling,

And, spite of all her snarling,

I felt resolved to win you.
She turned me to a bear, dear ;
I sought you everywhere, dear,

And strained each nerve and sinew,
For tauntingly she said,

“When you that maiden wed,

Then you may drop your bear-skin.
But you must win her truly,

And use no force unduly,

Or for life you’lldon that rare skin.”’
His words were sweet as honey ;
His form was young and bonny ;

The young wife smiled and wept.
‘Now I will show tke kitchen’

(For this he’d long been itching) ;

‘I’ve had it nicely swept.’

He pushed a rugged door,
And what a sight she saw !

A long and lofty greenhouse,
With bright flowers overhead,
Which round sweet fragrance shed.

No more is she a mean spouse.

44

 

)

A genial warmth arose,
Which soon dried all her clothes ;

He culled a tempting posy.
‘My kitchen, love, is near,

But first I dropped in here

To make your cheeks more rosy.’
They gently strayed along,

And music soft and song

Salute her raptured ear.

Now falls like rain sweet flowers,
As from enchanted bowers :

They’re watered with a tear.
Now golden fountains play,
Diffusing perfumed spray ;

And birds of plumage rare
Descend on flower and tree,
And, with soft notes of glee,

Their music fills the air.

‘And are these all our own?
These flowers, so richly grown ?

This sweet, enchanting place ?’
Her eye with rapture glows,

Her cheek outvies the rose;

She clings to his embrace.
“Ah! ’tis your love alone
Restores me all my own:

The fairy so decreed.

Had you but cherished ire,
I still in brute attire

That shed for home would need.
Two years I’ve been all shaggy;
But you, my dearest Maggy, .

Have broken down the spell.

e