A woman cook stands in front of a stove and holds the lid of a pot. A policeman, or "Bobby," stands behind her and says, "Pretty cookery.", Text: "Maid of Grease" how fat you, / The plainest surely of plain Cook; / To try your charms on me's no use / For you shall never cook any Goose. / Doubtless you may think it nobby / To win the notice of some 'Bobby;' / But value not his Cupboard love, / Who from cook to cook doth rove; / Lose your place and money, you / Will find you've lost your Bobby too., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The policeman talks to a woman through a window. She wears a low-cut gown, and he holds his hands to his face. Behind him, a boy steals something from a man's pocket. The valentine criticizes him for neglecting his job to pay attention to women., Text: What a happy life the policeman leads; / With his Starry shield before him! / He mutters his love to the passing maids, / While ladies, from windows, adore Him. / The Gallant BRAVE Fellow never suspects / A thief might, near Him, be stealing; / So he chats with HIS DEAR, and bows his respects, / While love the dark-deed is concealing., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A policeman in uniform holds a lantern in his hand. The valentine suggests that he takes advantage of the benefits of his position and shies away from the responsibilities., Text: If the right one’s a strong ‘un, / You collar the wrong ‘un, / It’s one of the tricks of the trade. / All the members / Of the force, / Have a watch / and chain, of course. /You’re the biggest fraud in the force, / and with your lantern in your hand, / You frighten all the kids / and rob every costers stand, /You sample the gin at the corners, / till your nose is as red as a beet, / And if they come down with the tanners, / you wink at the rascals who cheat, / You are after all the cookies, / like any love sick chick, / And when there’s a row a brewing / you scamper away mighty quick., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
