‘Dear Charles, you have won my heart

My first love and my vow’ :

He pressed her closely to his breast

And kissed her lovely brow:

We promised an explanation of The Long Woman’s Grave. Here it is in verse (abbreviated! Original attributed to P Fox of Hill Street).   First, an explanation.

The prodigal son and heir to a princely estate in Glenmore, above Carlingford, grew weary of waiting for his inheritance and sailed to Spain to seek his fortune.  He made no fortune but won the favour of a beautiful and exceptionally tall Spanish Princess.  She, won over by tales of the beautiful country of Ireland and its friendly people, prevailed upon him to return and if she met with the favour of his parents, she would marry him and settle in Carlingford.  He agreed.

……
‘Ah Love but say you’ll be my bride

And bid farewell to Spain

Now the childer drew back just to look at the fun

And to watch if old Peggy would soon make him run

And no one went near him, his can nor his cart

 For Peggy had won each young innocent heart.

She’d tell them their voices would far sweeter be

And the Gaelic they’d talk with a much greater glee

When they’d ate her nice jib and the lozengers too –

For she’d made them herself out o’ honey and subh.

You remember old Peggy that used have the cart

With the sweets and the jib and the wee apple tarts

Bananas and oranges and pears in a keg

The grapes and the buns and the brown ‘Peggy’s Leg’