Soiled Doves and Ruined Ladies

Alas it has always been challenging for a Maudlin Girl to keep herself nice. Enjoy this wry look at the Soiled Dove/Ruined Lady penned by Thomas Hardy 1901


The Ruined Maid

“O ‘Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such proseperi-ty”--
“O didn’t you know I’d been ruined?” said she.

--”You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you’ve gay bracelets and bright feathers three!”
“Yes, that’s how we dress when we’re ruined.” said she.

--”At home in the barton you said ‘thee’ and ‘thou,’
And ‘thik oon,’ and ‘theas oon,’ and ‘t’other’; but now
Your talking quite fits ‘ee for high compa-ny!”--
“Some polish is gained with one’s ruin,” said she.

--”Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak
But now I’m bewitched by your delicate cheek,
And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!”--
“We never do work when we’re ruined,” said she.

--”You used to call home-life a hag ridden dream,
And you’d sigh, and you’d sock; but at present you seem
To know not the megrims or melancholoy!”--
“True, One’s pretty lively when ruined,” said she.

-- “I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!”--
“My dear- a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,” said she.
- Thomas Hardy circ 1901

Ill OcTobEr and AprIL FoOlEry

Legend has it that April 30 and October 31 are both known as the Night of Witches. On these evenings, witches and warlocks rode through the air on broomsticks to secret meetings.
..... possibly visiting the ghoulie grotto or Maudlin Mansion?!.... Of course The modern day witch has traded in her broomstick for a cyclonic Vacuum cleaner....