Mother says I mustn’t

From Axon Ballad no. 84

I fell in love with a pretty girl, 
A few short years ago, 
All sorts of weather, hail or rain,
To court I would go; 
I'd long and site with love until
'Twas time to be away,
And when I'd ask a parting kiss,
She always used to say:

"Oh, mother says I mustn't, mother says I mustn't, 
Oh George, please George, not just yet awhile;
Mother says I mustn't, mother says I mustn't,
Oh! George, no George, not just yet"

I, waiting, kept, at last one day,
I thought I'd know my fate,
I sunk upon my knees in quite
An agonising state;
"Selina say you'll have your George,
And when shall we be wed?"
I longed to hear my love's reply,
And this is what she said:

[Spoken: Well, George, dear, you're very kind, but we could never live on 200 a year, so until you are worth at least 500 per annum, darling – mother says:]

From then I went to work, by Jove!
I left no stone unturned,
Until five hundred pounds a year
At last I really earned;
Selina heard how things had changed,
And when we met one day,
She seemed so pleasant – and at last,
She lovingly did say:

[Spoken: You remember George, dear, what I said when you asked me some time ago, well George, dear, as you have so improved in circumstances, suppose you ask me now, Georgie Porgy, darling? Well says I upon consideration, you're very kind but:]

Give me the girl who loves a man,
And loves him for himself,
Whose first consideration, is not
What he's worth in pelf
All sordid minded damsels, who
May worship golden dross,
May they be old maids till they die,
And will never feel their loss.

[Spoken: So you ladies who don't want to be old maids, mind you don't once too often say:]