I Came to buy a smile－today－1
But just a single smile－
The smallest one upon your face
Will suit me just as well－
The one that no one else would miss5
It shone so very small－
I'm pleading at the "counter"－sir－
Could you afford to sell－
I've Diamonds－on my fingers－
You know what Diamonds are?10
I've Rubies－live the Evening Blood－
And Topaz－like the star!
'Twould be "a Bargain" for a Jew!
Say－may I have it－Sir?
But just a single smile－
The smallest one upon your face
Will suit me just as well－
The one that no one else would miss5
It shone so very small－
I'm pleading at the "counter"－sir－
Could you afford to sell－
I've Diamonds－on my fingers－
You know what Diamonds are?10
I've Rubies－live the Evening Blood－
And Topaz－like the star!
'Twould be "a Bargain" for a Jew!
Say－may I have it－Sir?
(F.258/J.223)
[1] smile:: whisky.
[3] cheek:: side piece of a windor or door.
[6] shone:: the glass bottle.
[9, 11, 12] Diamonds, Rubies, Topaz:: glass toys, rings.
They are small glass-amulets, commonly about half as wide as our finger-rings, but much thicker, usually of a green colour, though some are blue, and others curiously waved with blue, red, and white. ─ The beauties of Scotland (1806)