Classic Poem

Of all the tales was ever told,
I now will you impart,
That cannot fail to terror strike,
To every human heart.
The deeds of Mary Arnold,
Who does in jail deplore,
Oh such a dreadful tale as this
Was never told before.

This wretched woman's dreadful deed
Does everyone affright.
With black beetles in walnut shells
She deprived her child of sight.

Now think you, tender parents,
What must this monster feel,
The heart within her breast must ten
Times harder be than steel.
The dreadful crimes she did commit
Does all the world surprise:
Black beetles placed in walnut shells
Bound round her infant's eyes.

The beetles in a walnut shell
The monster she did place,
This dreadful deed, as you may read,
All history does disgrace.
The walnut shell and beetles
With a bandage she bound tight
Around her infant's tender eyes,
To take away its sight.

A lady saw this monster
In the street when passing by,
And she was struck with terror
For to hear the infant cry.
The infant's face she swore to see,
Which filled her with surprise,
To see the fatal bandage
Tied round the infant's eyes.

With speed she called an officer,
Oh shocking to relate,
Who beheld the deed, and took the wretch
Before the magistrate.
Who committed her for trial,
Which did the wretch displease,
And she's now transported ten long years
Across the briny seas.

Is there another in the world
Could plan such wicked deed?
No-one upon this earth before
Of such did ever see.
To take away her infant's sight,
'Tis horrible to tell,
Binding black beetles round his eyes
Placed in walnut shells.