I’ll tell you of my love, She tender is and true, Kind as turtle dove, Too fair for mortal view. And if you fain would know Why I must love her so, I love my love, but I Could hardly tell you why, I love my love because I do. From _The Figaro_. October 28, 1874. ――――:o:―――― CHERRY RIPE. Cherry ripe, ripe, I cry, Full and fair ones, come and buy; If so be you ask me where They do grow? I answer there, Where my Julia’s lips do smile There’s the land, or cherry isle. Cherry ripe, ripe, I cry Full and fair ones come and buy There plantations fully show All the year where cherries grow. Cherry ripe, ripe, I cry, Full and fair ones, come and buy. ROBERT HERRICK. This song having been adapted to a pleasing melody by Mr. Charles Horn, became very popular about 60 years ago. ―――― It is probable that “Cherry Ripe” was suggested to Herrick by Richard Allison’s earlier poem, entitled:―― THERE IS A GARDEN IN HER FACE. There is a garden in her face, Where roses and white lillies grow; A heavenly paradise is that place, Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow; There cherries grow that none may buy, Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry. Those cherries fairly do inclose, Of orient pearl a double row; Which when her lovely laughter shows, They look like rose buds fell’d with snow; Yet them no peer nor prince may buy, Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry. Her eyes like angels watch them still, Her brows like bended bows do stand, Threatening with piercing frowns to kill All that approach with eye or hand These sacred cherries to come nigh, Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry. ―――― “WATER-PIPES.” (Paterfamilias’s song of the frost.) “Water-pipes, water-pipes, pipes” I cry! “Been and busted!” Low and High. If I ask the housemaid. “Where?” She will answer, “Here, and there,―― Here and there and everywhere.” Whence they come and where they go, Is just the thing I want to know! But I don’t, and that is why “Plumber! Plumber!” is the cry. Plumber! Plumber! left and right; Plumber! Plumber! day and night.