Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

<p class="tit-song">LOVE IN DISGUISE <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page077" name="page077"></SPAN>(p. 077)</span></p> <p>As William and Mary stood by the seashore<br/> Their last farewell to take,<br/> Returning no more, little Mary she said,<br/> "Why surely my heart will break."<br/> "Oh, don't be dismayed, little Mary," he said,<br/> As he pressed the dear girl to his side,<br/> "In my absence don't mourn, for when I return<br/> I'll make little Mary my bride."</p> <p>Three years passed on without any news.<br/> One day as she stood by the door<br/> A beggar passed by with a patch on his eye,<br/> "I'm home, oh, do pity, my love;<br/> Have compassion on me, your friend I will be.<br/> Your fortune I'll tell besides.<br/> The lad you mourn will never return<br/> To make little Mary his bride."</p> <p>She startled and trembled and then she did say,<br/> "All the fortune I have I freely give<br/> If what I ask you will tell unto me,&mdash;<br/> Say, does young William yet live?"<br/> "He lives and is true and poverty poor,<br/> And shipwreck has suffered beside;<br/> He'll return no more, because he is poor,<br/> To make little Mary his bride."</p> <p>"No <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page078" name="page078"></SPAN>(p. 078)</span> tongue can tell the joy I do feel<br/> Although his misfortune I mourn,<br/> And he's welcome to me though poverty poor,<br/> His jacket all tattered and torn.<br/> I love him so dear, so true and sincere,<br/> I'll have no other beside;<br/> Those with riches enrobed and covered with gold<br/> Can't make little Mary their bride."</p> <p>The beggar then tore the patch from his eye,<br/> His crutches he laid by his side,<br/> Coat, jacket and bundle; cheeks red as a rose,<br/> 'Twas William that stood by her side.<br/> "Then excuse me, dear maid," to her he said,<br/> "It was only your love I tried."<br/> So he hastened away at the close of the day<br/> To make little Mary his bride.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />