No fairer maid was ever seen Than this lovely Molly Barber, Who moved as graceful as a queen, Meeting all with joyous welcome. Golden Yellow were her tresses, Banked in ringlets o'er her shoulders. And her eyes the violets rivalled, Dancing lights like diamonds shining, Sparkling clear or laughter rippled, Glad with joy or sad with sorrow, Meeting each occasion bravely As a queen without a scepter. Pearls from ocean's deepest waters Equalled not the shining jewels Glowing in her lips' enclosure. Laughed she like the ringing silver, As she spoke of many matters, Shyly joking, singing, talking, Busy spinning, weaving, sewing, Ever happy, smiling gayly, Quoting often from the sagas, Ancient poems, words of wisdom, Apt replies to Cupid's arrows. Sweet and fair and most attractive Was this lithe and graceful maiden To the crowds of beaux and daughters, Basking in the cheerful sunshine Of her smiles so sweetly beaming. 7. ONE ALONE MET HER APPROVAL. And many came to win her hand, Using all the wiles of suitors, With all the arts at their command- One alone met her approval. But of all the ardent suitors, Seeking for her hand in marriage, One alone met her approval, Found his eager courtship welcome, Found his visits were encouraged. All the others were rejected, All the offers that they made her, All the flowers that they sent her, All the letters that they wrote her, All the poems that they brought her, All the presents that they gave her, All the riches that they spoke of, Failed to win her smiling promise. 8. ASKING FOR HER FATHER'S BLESSING. With hopeful glance and gentle voice, Kneeling then before her father, She asked his blessing on her choice, Looking for a kindly answer. Speaking shyly with her father, Molly told of her devotion, And her choice of all her suitors, Fair and honest, strong and hardy, Toiling daily for his living In the field and in the forest, Was the one her heart had chosen For her partner and her husband And the father of her children. Kneeling there she softly asked him For his blessing on their union. 9. THEN HER FATHER ANSWERED STERNLY. Her father's face grew dark and stern, Lifted he his voice in anger, "You shall at once this beggar spurn; Seek a richer man, my daughter." Then her father answered sternly, Spake against her heart's selection, Saying with a show of anger, "Choose a richer man, my daughter, Never shall you wed this fellow, Born to toil and lowly labor. Let him find a slave his equal Here among the village wenches. Seek a richer man, my daughter From the suitors that surround you, One who has ancestral acres, Meeting all the needs of living Meeting all the needs of leisure, Filling life with joy and pleasure, While his servants do his bidding. Live, my daughter, like a princess, Free from weary care and worry, Stooping not to lowly labor, Never shall you wed this fellow!"