Wouldst thou, possessor of a flock, employ
(Apprized that he is such) a careless boy,
And feed him well, and give him handsome pay,
Merely to sleep, and let them run astray ?
Survey our schools and colleges, and see
A sight not much unlike

my simile.
From education, as the leading cause,
The public character its colour draws,
Thence the prevailing manners take their cast,
Extravagant or sober, loose or chaste.
And though I would not advertise them yet,
Nor write on each— This Building to be let,
Unless the world were all prepared to embrace
A plan well worthy to supply their place,
Yet backward as they are, and long have been,
To cultivate and keep the MORALS clean,
(Forgive the crime) I wish them, I confess,
Or better managed, or encouraged less.

THE

DIVERTING HISTORY

OF

JOHN GILPIN,

SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED,

AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN.

JOHN GILPIN was a citizen

Of credit and renown,
A train-band Captain eke was he

Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,

—Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we

No holiday have seen.

To-morrow is our wedding-day,

And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton,

All in a chaise and pair.

My sister and my sister's child,

Myself and children three
Will fill the chaise, so you must ride

On horseback after we.

He soon replied—I do admire

Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,

Therefore it shall be done.

I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know, And my good friend the Callender

Will lend his horse to go.

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin- That's well said ;

And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnish'd with our own,

Which is both bright and clear.

John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife,

O'erjoyed was he to find
That though on pleasure she was bent,

She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaise was brought,

But yet was not allow'd
To drive up to the door, lest all
Should

say

that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stay'd,

Where they did all get in,
Six precious souls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.
Smack we the whip, round went the wheel,

Were never folk so glad,
The stones did rattle underneath

As if Cheapside were mad.
John Gilpin at his horse's side

Seized fast the flowing mane, And up

in haste to ride, But soon came down again.

he got

For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,

His journey to begin,
When turning round his head he saw

Three customers come in.

So down he came, for loss of time

Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,

Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the customers

Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came down stairs,

« The wine is left behind.”

Good lack! quoth he, yet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise
In which I bear my trusty sword

When I do exercise.

Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul,

Had two stone bottles found, To hold the liquor that she loved,

And keep it safe and sound.

Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side

To make his balance true.

Then over all, that he might be

Equipp'd from top to toe, His long red cloak well brush'd and neat

He manfully did throw. S. C.-9.

х

Now see him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones

With caution and good heed.

But finding soon a smoother road

Beneath his well-shod feet, The snorting beast began to trot,

Which gall’d him in his seat.

So, Fair and softly, John he cried,

But John he cried in vain,
That trot became a gallop soon

In spite of curb and rein.
So stooping down, as needs he must

Who cannot sit upright,
He grasp'd the mane with both his hands

And eke with all his might.

His horse, who never in that sort

Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back had got

Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin neck or nought,

Away went hat and wig,
He little dreamt when he set out

Of running such a rig.
The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,

Like streamer long and gay,
Till loop and button failing both

At last it flew away.