They met, when they were girl and boy,
Going to school one day,
And, “Won’t you take my peg-top, dear?”
Was all that he could say.
She bit her little pinafore,
Close to his side she came,
She whispered “No! no, thank you Tom,”
But took it all the same.
They met one day the selfsame way,
When ten swift years had flown;
He said, “I’ve nothing but my heart,
But that is yours alone.”
“And won’t you take my heart?” he said,
And called her by her name;
She blushed and said “No, thank you, Tom,”
But took it all the same.
And twenty, thirty, forty years
Have brought them care and joy,
She has the little peg-top still
He gave her when a boy.
“I’ve had no wealth, sweet wife,” says he,
“I’ve never brought you fame:”
She whispers “No! no, thank you, Tom!
You’ve loved me all the same!”