Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 2

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STORIES OF
true; it was translated into French and German, and even Italian. It was sung about the streets, each itinerant singer putting his or her own tune to it. It was printed on cotton pocket handkerchiefs and sold at the drapers and other shops, and it caused as much stir in the little world of home as it did in the greater world outside. A friend of mine, Mr. Jones-Hunt, has had the privilege of seeing the MS. of a verse that was not published with the song; it appears in an American edition of the poet's works, and has a singular error in one of the words.
The copy has been made from the original in Hood's own handwriting.
" Seam and gusset and band, Band and gusset and seam,
"Work, work, work, Like the engine that works by steam ! A new machine of iron and wood, That toils for Mammon's sake, Without a brain to ponder and craze, Or a heart to feel, and break.''
The error referred to relates to ponder, which is printed powder.
The MS. for the purpose of making a copy of the above was lent by one of Hood's grand-daughters, Miss Broderip; it was evidently one of the first rough sheets of the song, and with it was another verse which in a corrected form
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