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