The Game of Cards

As I was a-walking one midsummer's morning

I heard the birds whistle and the nightingales play

And there did I spy a beautiful maiden

As I a-walking all on the highway

"O where are you going, my fair pretty lady?

O where are you going so early this morn?"

She said:"I'm going down to visit my neighbours;

I'm going down to Warwick, the place I was born."

It's "May I come with you, my sweet pretty daring?

May I go along in your sweet company?"

Then she turned her head and smiling all at me

Saying: "You may come with me, kind sir, if you please."

We hadn't been walking but a few miles together

Before this young damsel began to show free

She sat herself down, saying: "Sit down beside me

And the games we shall play shall be one, two and three."

I said: "My dear lady, if you're fond of the gaming

There's one game I know I would like you to learn

The game it is called: The Game Of All Fours."

So I took out my pack and began the first turn

She cut the cards first and I fell a-dealing

I dealt her a trump and myself the poor jack

She led off her ace and stole my jack from me

Saying: "Jack is the card I like best in your pack."

"Since I dealt them last time, it's your turn to shuffle

And my turn to show the best card in the pack."

Once more she'd the ace and the deuce for to beat me

Once again I had lost when I laid down poor jack

So I took up my hat and I bid her: "Good morning,"

I said: "You're the best that I know at this game."

She answered: " Young man, if you'll come back to-morrow

We'll play the game over and over again."