And when we held the big bazaar— A fine and lively meeting— And people came from near and far, In buoyant zeal competing, ’Twas rush and gush and fulsomeness And Careys superintending; They raced about in evening dress, And deftly dodged the spending. We might have been in Amsterdam, Or somewhere out in Flanders; We sold some tickets for “the ham,” And stalked about like ganders. So when we gathered up the clan, And sought our distant eyries, Within the Old Mass Shandrydan We blazed it at the Careys:
“Wisha, did you see the Careys, like some wild things from the prairies?” “Faith, I never met ‘the bate’ of that for many ’n many a day.” “Sure it’s pounds we would have taken with them tickets for the bacon, If them thuckeens[10] of the Careys were not always in the way.”
And when the little choir we had In tender hope was springing, And nervous lass and awkward lad Were mobilized for singing, We all went down our own to hear, As holy triumph crowned them, But Careys sailed in shrill and clear, And silenced all around them; Our Nellie’s range they quite outran, And even Laughing Mary’s; So in the Old Mass Shandrydan We pitched into the Careys:
“Wisha, did you hear the Careys? Don’t they think they’re fine canaries?” “Yerra, wouldn’t you think they’d hold the tongues, and let the people pray!” “Faith, my head is all a-reelin’ from them Careys and their squealin’— Wisha, did you hear them shoutin’ there to-day!”
The angels, in their peaceful skies Through starry paddocks straying, Must sometimes smile with kindly eyes To see the tricks we’re playing. Now rosy-cheeked and smart and fair Was Carey’s youngest daughter; And lo, our Morgan did his hair With mutton-fat and water; But days and days the lovers spent On thorns (and roses) treading, Till down to Carey’s house we went, Invited to the wedding. For life’s a fine comedian, Whose programme shifts and varies, And in the Old Mass Shandrydan We smoodged a bit to Careys:
“Wisha, now we’ll see the Careys in their weddin’ fal-de-daries!” “Faith, I mind the time the Careys slep’ beneath their bullock-dray.” “Sure, I wouldn’t hurt their feelin’s, though I never liked their dealin’s; “An’ if just to please poor Morgan, I’ll be nice to them to-day.”