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Mrs. Merdle At Home.

She Discourseth of Nothing to Eat and the Cost thereof.

Why Merdle--why did you bring Dinewell to-day?

So very, though welcome, so quite unexpected!

For dinner, if any, I'm sure I can't say,

Our servants with washing are all so infected.

If any's provided, 't is nothing but scraps

Of pot-luck or pick up of some common fare;

Or something left over from last week perhaps,

Which you've brought a friend, and an old one, to share.

I never, I'm sure now, so much was ashamed,

To think he'll discover--what's true to the letter--

We've nothing, or next to't that's fit to be named,

For one who is used every day to what's better.

But what can you expect if you come on a Monday?

Our French cook's away too, I vow and declare--

But if you would see us with something to spare,

Let's know when you're coming, or come on a Sunday;

For that of all others, for churchmen or sinners,

A day is for gorging with extra good dinners.

If Merdle had told me a friend would be here,

A dinner I'd get up in spite of the bills--

I often tell butcher he's wonderful dear--

He says every calf that a butcher now kills,

Will cost near as much as the price of a steer,

Before all the banks in their discount expanded

And flooded the country with 'lamp-black and rags,'

Which poor men has ruined and shipwrecked and stranded

On Poverty's billows and quick-sands and crags.

And that is just what, as our butcher explains,

The dickens has played with our beef and our mutton;

But something is gained, for, with all of his pains,

The poor man won't make of himself such a glutton.

I'm sure if they knew what a sin 't is to eat,

When things are all selling at extravagant prices,

That poor folks more saving would be of their meat,

And learn by example how little suffices.

I wish they could see for themselves what a table--

What examples we set to the laboring poor,

In prudence, and saving, in those who are able

To live like a king and his court on a tour.

I feel, I acknowledge, sometimes quite dejected

To think, as it happens with you here today,

To drop in so sudden and quite unexpected,

How poor we are living some people will say.