THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN. 623

Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, Ab, luckless speech, and bootless
‘And loved a timely joke; boast !

‘And thus unto the calender For which he paid full dear ;
‘In merry guise he spoke: For while he spake, a braying asa

Did sing most loud and clear.

T came because your horse would Whereat bi id eat: aaa
‘And, if wall forebode, [come; "Bet kee reno

My hat and wig will soon be here, And gallop'd off withall hismight,
‘They are upon the road. As he had done before.

The calender, right glad to find Away went Gilpin, and away
Ha friend in eaerry pin, Went Gilpin's hat and wig;

Return'd him not a single word, He lost them sooner than at

But to the house went in; first 5
= ee For why they were too big.

Thence straight he came with hat Now Mra, Gilpin, when she saw

and Wig, Her husband posti
3 Disks posting down
A. wig that flow'd bebind, Into the country far away,
Ahatnotmuch the worse for wear, "Shs pulld ous half'a crown ;

Fach comely in its kind,
And thus unto the youth she said
y

Ho held them up,and in his turn , That drove them to the Bell,
"Thus show'd bis ready wit: This shall be yours when you

My head is twice as big as yours, bring back
‘They therefore needs must ft. My husband safo and well.

But lot me scrape the dirt away Te Youth did ride, and soon did
‘That hangs upon your face ; is tae

And stop and eat, Tor well you Whom iors teks to ten top,
Be inahungry caso, [may By catching at his rein;

Said John—It is my wedding-day, But not performing whathe meant,
And all the world would stare, _ And gladly would have done,
If wife should dine at Edmonton, Thefrighted stecd ho frighted more,

And I should dine at Ware. And made him faster run.
So tuning to his horso, heaaid, A"AY vent Gilpin, and away
Tam in haste to dinc; (heres Tho post vere owe rake glad
“Twas for your pleasure you camo TP? Post;boy'shorse right glad to
You shall go back for mine. The Jumbering of the wheels.