Tom properly stated his praises in facts, but the lady preferred
To deck the narration with brackets, and drop her additional word.
What nobler Christian natures these women could boast, who, ’twas
known,
Once spat at the name of their nephew, and now made his praises their
own!
The letter at last was finished, the hearers breathed freely, and sign
Was given, ‘Tom’s health!’—Quoth the farmer: ‘Eh, Miss? are you weak
in the spine?’