Pray, ladies, ye of wondrous clothes,

That draw admiring "ahs!" and "ohs!"

And "By Joves!" as men chat,

Permit me,—love the right bestows,—

Where did you get that hat?

The very hat, sweet maids, I mean,

So often now on Broadway seen,

That is so very flat;

Black as a rule, but sometimes green.

Where did you get that hat?

In shape an oyster-dish,—the crown,—

A ribbon bristles up and down,

Quite striking—yes, all that;

The sweetest, neatest thing in town!

Where did you get that hat?