| Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917. | | | | The Sweep’s Carol, 1826 | | By George P. Morris |
| | | THROUGH the streets of New York City, | |
| Blithely every morn, | |
| I carolled o’er my artless ditty, | |
| Cheerly though forlorn! | |
| Before the rosy light, my lay | 5 |
| Was to the maids begun, | |
| Ere winters snows had passed away, | |
| Or smiled the summer sun. | |
| Carol-O-a-y-e-o! | |
| |
| In summer months I’d fondly woo, | 10 |
| Those merry dark-eyed girls, | |
| With faces of the ebon hue, | |
| And teeth like eastern pearls! | |
| One vowed my love she would repay— | |
| Her heart my song had won— | 15 |
| When winter songs had passed away | |
| Or smiled the summer sun. | |
| Carol-O-a-y-e-o! | |
| |
| A year, alas! had scarcely flown— | |
| Hope beamed but to deceive— | 20 |
| Ere I was left to weep alone, | |
| From morn till dewy eve! | |
| She died one dreary break of day!— | |
| Grief weighs my heart upon!— | |
| In vain the snows may pass away, | 25 |
| Or smile the summer sun. | |
| Carol-O-a-y-e-o! | | | | |
|
|
