Cornered

I KNEW it was comin', I'd watched fer a year Without sayin' a word to a soul excep' Ma Of the sweet sort o' things that were happenin' here, An,' 'You orter feel mighty glad of it, Pa!' Was all that she said. But I didn't somehow, I'd a feelin' that only old men understand, I knew it was comin'. And it's happened now! An' I answered yes, when he ast fer her hand. I dodged him six weeks, now it's done, I confess. I contrived it so's he'd never get me alone, I knew all the time that he wanted our Bess, An' that he was eager to make his wants known. But he got me last night, passed me out a see-gar An' while he was talkin' I looked at the band, I knew in my heart that he wouldn't get far Afore he'd get courage an' ask fer her hand. An' I shook like a man with the ague, I guess, Like a fellow must feel when they've doomed him to die, An' I didn't look up when I answered him yes, I was almost ashamed of the tears in each eye. He's honest and clean, he's a man through and through An' as soon as I got my old heart in command, I said: 'Since it must be, I am glad it is you, I give you my best when I give you her hand.' I knew it was comin'. For months I could see It was love that was lightin' those young people's eyes, And so when he finally did corner me I know what he said wasn't any surprise. Now Ma's kissin' 'em both, then she'll come out and cry, An' tomorrow she'll tell me it's perfectly grand; Oh, happy young man, mebbe some day you'll sigh When you're asked to part with your little one's hand.