PS Bee

‘Oh, dreadful! dreadful! oh, dear me! what can my grief assuage ?
Look! there’s his birth’s certificate, and we shall learn his age!’

The bride was frightened, and would fly, but Annie she enjoyed it ;

Had he but been her husband, too, perchance she’d been annoyed at it.
Sherummaged all the chamber through—‘ These things, love, Ill bet fewsee’em.’
And now she’s found another door, ’tis lettered ‘ Bluebeard’s Museum.’

In for a penny, in for a pound! you won’t find her back creep ;

When she is hung, ‘twon’t be for lamb, but for a full-grown sheep.

The door is heavy, and but moves by their united strength,

Till open half, then yields at once, and they fall down full length.

The door then closes with a bang, and leaves them in the dark.

They grope about—a shutter lift, and hear the watchdog bark.

Bluebeard is back! what shall they do? In vain the door is tried ;

It seems a mass of iron plate, no handle placed inside!

They both are caught as in a trap, and no escape seems certain.

Annie but little seems to care, and raises up a curtain,

When she is staggered by the sight in half-a-dozen bottles—

Six females have been pickled there, suspended by their throttles !

On each a label marks the day in which she took to spirits,

With just a word placed underneath which stated her demerits.

Above was written, ‘ These are wives of Old Blue Beard the Furious,
Who had the varments bottled off as soon as they grew curious.’

An empty bottle in the row poor Fatima perceived now,

And truly for her naughtiness the poor young creature grieved now.

But Annie soon recovered breath, and stooping gently kissed her ;

‘How glad I am the Act ain't passed about deceased wife’s sister !

Let’s barricade the room, my dear; come, help me shove these mummies,
They are the only guards we've left, but they shall act as dummies.’
They placed a wedge beneath the door, then moved the six young women:
’Twas hard work to secure their help, though they’re with spirits brimming,
They scarcely had fulfilled their task, sustained by desperation,

When, lo! they hear to raise the siege there’s signs of preparation.

Blue Beard is in the outer room, and some ill must intend her,

For in the loudest angry tones he calls them to surrender.