Merry Maid by John Clare Lyrics

Bonny and stout and brown, without a hat,
She frowns offended when they call her fat
Yet fat she is, the merriest in the place
And all can know she wears a pretty face
But still she never heeds what praise can say
But does the work, and oft runs out to play
To run about the yard and ramp and noise
And spring the mop upon the servant boys
When old hens noise and cackle every where
She hurries eager if the eggs are dear
And runs to seek them when they lay away
To get them ready for the market day
She gambols with the men and laughs aloud
And only quarrels when they call her proud