IT-S OH! for a rivet in marriage bonds,
And a splice in the knot untied-
The sanctity of the marriage tie
Is growing more sanctified!
They-re getting mixed up in society,
There-s an awful family row,
For Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Is -keeping� his first wife now!

Oh! she belonged to the smart, smart set
(Where reasons are far to seek)-
And the wedding and -crush� are remembered yet
As the -smart� things of the week.
Never an atom of love had she,
But they had a child somehow-
And Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Has the love of his first wife now.

Mad for -notice� and -talk� was she-
A butterfly blind as a bat-
She would flaunt for a season a divorcee,
Or divorce him, failing that.
He played his part and she held his heart
As light as her marriage vow-
But Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Has a hold on his first wife now.

She swore in Court what the world knew false,
With never a thought of shame-
She was free to flaunt to her heart-s content,
But she found it mighty tame:
The talk of the -town� for a week or two-
The gush, the smirk and the bow-
But Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Is the God of his first wife now!

Her soul grew sick of the smart, smart set,
Or her conscience drove her wild-
Or she craved for -notice� and -talk� once more-
Or perhaps because of the child;
But they met at last and they met again-
No matter the where or how-
And Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Is in love with his first wife now.

-Tis a -terrible life� for the second young wife,
But she married him too for -place�;
And she mustn-t forget that a smarting set
Belongs to the human race.
They say it-s fixed up in camera,
And, if that is the case, I-ll vow,
That Reginald Jones of -The Fernery�
Will marry his first wife now.

And there is a song of the English world
And a song for the English race:
The second husband and second wife
Must ever take second place.
So cherish the best that you find in the first,
And a margin of width allow:
The future looks after itself too well!
Look after the first ones now.