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1840–1928

THE MARKET-GIRL

Thomas Hardy

Nobody took any notice of her as she stood on the causey kerb, All eager to sell her honey and apples and bunches of garden herb; And if she had offered to give her wares and herself with them too that day, I doubt if a soul would have cared to take a bargain so choice away.

But chancing to trace her sunburnt grace that morning as I passed nigh, I went and I said “Poor maidy dear!— and will none of the people buy?” And so it began; and soon we knew what the end of it all must be, And I found that though no others had bid, a prize had been won by me.

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THE MARKET-GIRL · Thomas Hardy · Poetry Cove