  You may have met, when walking out or thereabout, A lady (angular and plain) Escorted by an ancient swain, Or, possibly, by two, Each leading by a piece of string A lazy, fat, and pampered thing Supposed to be a dog. You may, Perhaps, have noticed them, I say, And, if so, thought, "They do Present unto the public gaze A singular appearance—very." That lady, doubtless, was my aunt, Miss Betsy Jane Priscilla Perry. Attending her were Captain Venne And Major Alec Stubbs. These two For many years had sought to woo My maiden aunt, Miss P., Who never could make up her mind Which one to marry, so was kind To one or other—each in turn— Thus causing jealous pangs to burn. I incidentally Should mention here the quadrupeds— Respectively called "Popsey Petsey,"— A mongrel pug;—and "Baby Heart,"— A poodle—both belonged to Betsy. And Major Stubbs compact and small; These two on nought could e'er agree, Except in this—they hated me, Sole nephew to Aunt Bess. My aunt was very wealthy, and I think you'll quickly understand The situation, when I say That Captain Venne was on half-pay, And Major Stubbs on less. To me it was so very plain And evident, I thought it funny My aunt should never, never see They wanted, not her, but her money. And Stubbs and Venne they did arrange A plan, intended to estrange My aunt and me. They told her lies; And one day, to my great surprise, A letter came for me. Requesting me to "call at six," For aunt had "heard of all the tricks I had been up to," and "was sad At hearing an account so bad." I went—in time for tea. My aunt was looking so severe I felt confused, a perfect noodle While Major Stubbs caressed the pug, And Captain Venne he nursed the poodle. "Dear Major Stubbs," my aunt began, "Has told me all—quite all he can— Of your sad goings on. Oh, fie! Where will you go to when you die, You naughty wicked boy?" And Captain Venne has told me too What very dreadful things you do. Of course I cannot but believe My two dear friends. They'd not deceive, Nor characters destroy, Without a cause. Go, leave me now, You'll see my purpose shall not falter I'll send at once for Lawyer Slymm, My latest will to bring and alter." I know I said what wasn't right; You see, I felt it hard to bear (And really, I contend, unfair), To be misjudged like this. I tried to argue, but 'twas vain, "My mind is fixed—my way is plain," My aunt declared. "Then hear me now!" I hotly cried, "There's naught, I vow, To cause you to dismiss Your nephew thus, but, as you please. And if, perchance, you wish to do it, Your money leave to your two friends; They want it, and—they're welcome to it." I vowed I'd never call there more. And neither did I, in my pride, Till six weeks since, when poor aunt died, And then, from Lawyer Slymm I got a little note, which said: "The will on Tuesday will be read." I went, and found that "Baby Heart" From Captain Venne must ne'er depart— She had been left to him; While "Popsey Petsey" Major Stubbs Received as his sole legacy And that was all. The money—oh! The money—that was left to me.
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