Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 6).djvu/402

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THE STRAND MAGAZINE.
405


"At the 'Cow and Cup.'"

"The gent—(as had a winning smile,
And pleasant-spoken as you please)—
Had bin with us a goodish while,
A-staying at the Seven Fleas';
   And always reg'lar to be found
   A-picturing the houses round.

"Now, when he heered about our plan
Of doing Pigley up a bit,
He seemed a reg'lar broken man—
We thought he'd go and have a fit;
   With tears a-rolling down his face
   He said we'd ruinate the place!

"Then round he comes to each in turn
As owned a cottage or a shed,
And filled our hearts with much concern
With all the dismal things he said:
   Says he, 'You let the village be—
   To touch it is a crime,' says he.

"Well, we was puzzled, you'll believe;
And weeks and weeks they came and went,
And still we didn't like to grieve
That pleasant-spoken artist gent.
   And 'alf a roof was all I had,
   And things were gettin' pretty bad.


"You let the village be."