Prevailing fashions/If I should get laughing at that

if i should get laughing at that.

In the days of my childhood I sported and play'd
among the young ⟨la⟩sses around,
⟨I⟩ was fond then of laughing, my grandmother said,
none merrier ever was found :
⟨To⟩ fill up the moment with joy and delight,
I scarcely new what to be at;
⟨For⟩ whatever was pleasing that came to my sight,
O I could not help laughing at that.

⟨Still⟩ the humour prevails, tho' maturer I‘m grown,
I'm happy to smile time away,
And the frolicks of fancy I did call my own,
And I pleasently spin out the day ;
Let the dull of the splenetic censure or chide,
at my innocent freedom and chat,
O I'd tire to hear their nonsensical pride,
for I cannot help laughing at that.

Young Colin declares for a husband I'm fit,
so he courts me from morning to night,
He talkes of the Parson the Church, and the Ring;
in praise too of conjugal chat;
On the charms of my parson displays all his wit;
and I own that it gives me delight,
O this wedlock must sure be an excellent thing,
but I must not get laughing at that.

At length to his wishes were I to comply,
as at length I ⟨seem⟩ to incline.
But if on his promises I may rely,
not to check the good humour of thine;
to church with young Colin I'd soon trip away,
and answer ⟨all⟩ questions quite pat,
When I com to the critical word, call’d Obey,
la; if I should get laughing at that.

FINIS.