James W. Johnson

“ Her income sufficed for herself and a maid,
⁠Extremely good looking and young;
But, like all pretty girls, a most tiresome jade,
She gave her poor mistress not much of her aid,
⁠And a very great deal of her tongue. ”

“ That she liked to “drop down” on the maid “unawares,”
⁠If she thought that a “follower” came.
Why that start of amazement—that look of surprise,
⁠Why those feelings that fast men call “queer?”
To Jane’s “What do you want, sir?” a deep voice replies:—
⁠“I die for your mistress, my dear.”
“For me is he dying? oh! beg him to wait,
⁠I’ll be down, Jane, as soon as I can,”
(For her costume was then in a terrible state,
Loose and white like a Muse, or a Grace, or a Fate,
⁠Ere crinoline fashions began.) ”