ALWAYS LEARNING. WASTE not your precious hours in play, -С. С. Nor think when all school days are o'er, When strong in hope, you first launch forth, Scorn not the voice of age or worth, When right and wrong within you strive, JOHN GILPIN. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, To-morrow is our wedding-day, My sister and my sister's child, He soon replied, I do admire 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 calender, Quoth Mistress Gilpin, that's well said; We will be furnished with our own, John Gilpin kissed his loving wife; The morning came, the chaise was brought, To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stayed, Six precious souls, and all agog, To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were ever folks so glad: The stones did rattle underneath, As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side, For saddle-tree scarce reached 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 it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mrs Gilpin, careful soul! Each bottle had a curling ear, And hung a bottle on each side, Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak, well brushed, and neat, Now see him mounted once again But finding soon a smoother road So, fair and softly, John he cried, So stooping down, as needs he must, Who cannot sit upright, He grasped the mane with both his hands, And eke with all his might. |