Neighbour Nelly

I'm in love with neighbour Nelly,
Though I know she's only ten.
While, alas, I'm eight-and-forty—
And the marriedest of men!
I've a wife who weighs me double,
I've three daughters all with beaux:
I've a son with noble whiskers.
Who at me turns up his nose—

Though a square-toes, and a fogey.
Still I've sunshine in my heart:
Still I'm fond of cakes and marbles,
Can appreciate a tart—
I can love my neighbour Nelly
Just as tho' I were a boy:
I could hand her nuts and apples
From my depths of corduroy.

She is tall, and growing taller,
She is vigorous of limb:
(You should see her play at cricket
With her little brother Jim.)
She has eyes as blue as damsons,
She has pounds of auburn curls.
She regrets the game of leapfrog
Is prohibited to girls.

I adore my neighbour Nelly,
I invite her in to tea:
And I let her nurse the baby—
All her pretty ways to see.
Such a darling bud of woman.
Yet remote from any teens,—
I have learnt from neighbour Nelly
What the girl's doll-instinct means.

Oh! to see her with the baby!
He adores her more than I,—
How she choruses his crowing,—
How she hushes every cry!
How she loves to pit his dimples
With her light forefinger deep,
How she boasts to me in triumph
When she's got him off to sleep!

We must part, my neighbour Nelly,
For the summers quickly flee;
And your middle-aged admirer
Must supplanted quickly be.
Yet as jealous as a mother,—
A distemper'd canker'd churl,
I look vainly for the setting
To be worthy such a pearl.