Classic Poem

It's O for a rivet in marriage bonds,
And a splice in the knot untied —
The sanctity of the marriage tie
Is growing more sanctified!
They're getting mixed up in society,
There's an awful family row,
For Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Is " keeping " his first wife now!

O she belonged to the smart, smart set
(Where reasons are far to seek) —
And the wedding and " crush " are remembered yet
As the " smart " things of the week.
Never an atom of love had she,
But they had a child somehow —
And Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Has the love of his first wife now.

Mad for " notice " and " talk " was she —
A butterfly blind as a bat —
She would flaunt for a season a divorcee,
Or divorce him, failing that,
He played his part and she held his heart
As light as her marriage vow —
But Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Has a hold on his first wife now.

She swore in Court what the world knew false,
With never a thought of shame —
She was free to flaunt to her heart's content,
But she found it mighty tame:
The talk of the " town " for a week or two —
The gush, the smirk and the bow —
But Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Is the God of his first wife now!

Her soul grew sick of the smart, smart set,
Or her conscience drove her wild —
Or she craved for " notice " and " talk " once more —
Or perhaps because of the child;
But they met at last and they met again —
No matter the where or how —
And Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Is in love with his first wife now.

'Tis a " terrible life " for the second young wife,
But she married him too for a " place " ;
And she mustn't forget that a smarting set
Belongs to the human race.
They say it's fixed up in camera ,
And, if that is the case, I'll vow
That Reginald Jones of " The Fernery "
Will marry his first wife now.

And there is a song of the English world
And a song for the English race:
The second husband and second wife
Must ever take second place.
So cherish the best that you find in the first ,
And a margin of width allow:
The future looks after itself too well!
Look after the first ones now.