PREACHING US. PRACTICE. A youngster at school, more sedate than the rest, His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob, He was shock'd, sir, like you, and answer'd-“Oh, no "You speak very fine, and you look very grave, They spoke, and Tom ponder'd-"I see they will ge 'If the matter depended alone upon me, His apples might hang till they dropp'd from the tree: His scruples thus silenced, Tom felt more at ease, THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN, Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home agam John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band Captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear- To-morrow is our wedding-day, And we will then repair My sister and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied "I do admire Of womankind but one, And you are she, my dearest dear, I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, And my good friend the Calender Quoth Mrs. Gilpin-"That's well said; We will be furnish'd with our own, John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife; 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, Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, 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 he got, in haste to ride, For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, When, turning round his head, he saw So down he came; for loss of time, '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 My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul) Each bottle had a curling ear, Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side, Then over all, that he might be me, His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o'er the stones But finding soon a smoother road So "Fair and softly," John he cried; In spite of curb and rein. So stooping down, as needs he must He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; He little dreamt, when he set out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern A bottle swinging at each side, As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, "Well done!" Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had baɛted been. But still he seem'd to carry weight, With leathern girdle braced; For all might see the bottle necks Thus all through merry Islington These gambols he did play, Until he came unto the Wash Of Edmonton so gay; And there he threw the wash about Just like unto a trundling mop, Or a wild goose at play. At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wondering much To see how he did ride. "Stop, stop, John Gilpin !—Here's the house,"They all aloud did cry; The dinner waits, and we are tired:' Said Gilpin "So am I." But yet his horse was not a whit For why?-His owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin out of breath, Till at his friend's the Calender's The Calender, amazed to see His neighbor in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him: "What news? what news? your tidings tell, Tell me you must and shall; Say why bare-headed you are come, Or why you come at all?" Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, "I came because your horse would come And, if I well forbode, My hat and wig will soon be here They are upon the road." The Calender, right glad to find |