Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 43

[9: look at]

[10: p.a.w.n]

[11: drink]

[12: Botticelli(?)]

[13: Wagner(?)]

[14: The Corsican Brothers(?)]

[15: Notes]

[16: spend money]

"TOTTIE"

[1887]

[By "DAGONET" (G. R. SIMS) in _Referee_, 7 Nov.].

I

As she walked along the street With her little 'plates of meat,' [1]

And the summer suns.h.i.+ne falling On her golden 'Barnet Fair,' [2]

Bright as angels from the skies Were her dark blue 'mutton pies.' [3]

In my 'East and West' Dan Cupid [4]

Shot a shaft and left it there.

II

She'd a Grecian 'I suppose,' [5]

And of 'Hampstead Heath' two rows, [6]

In her 'Sunny South' that glistened [7]

Like two pretty strings of pearls; Down upon my 'bread and cheese' [8]

Did I drop and murmur, 'Please Be my "storm and strife," dear Tottie, [9]

O, you darlingest of girls!'

III

Then a bow-wow by her side, [10]

Who till then had stood and tried A 'Jenny Lee' to banish, [11]

Which was on his 'Jonah's whale,' [12]

Gave a hydrophobia bark, (She cried, 'What a Noah's Ark!') [13]

And right through my 'rank and riches' [14]

Did my 'cribbage pegs' a.s.sail. [15]

IV

Ere her bull-dog I could stop She had called a 'ginger pop,' [16]

Who said, 'What the "Henry Meville" [17]

Do you think you're doing there?'

And I heard as off I slunk, 'Why, the fellow's "Jumbo's trunk!" [18]

And the 'Walter Joyce' was Tottie's [19]

With the golden 'Barnet Fair.' [20]

[1: feet]

[2: hair]

[3: eyes]

[4: breast]

[5: nose]

[6: teeth]

[7: mouth]

[8: knees]

[9: wife]

[10: dog]

[11: flee]

[12: tail]

[13: lark]

[14: breeches]

[15: legs]

[16: slop = policeman]

[17: devil]

[18: drunk]

[19: voice]

[20: hair]

A PLANK BED BALLAD [1888]

[By "DAGONET" (G. R. SIMS) in _Referee_, 12 Feb.].

I

Understand, if you please, I'm a travelling thief, The gonophs all call me the gypsy; [1]

By the rattler I ride when I've taken my brief, [2]

And I sling on my back an old kipsey. [3]

II

If I pipe a good chat, why, I touch for the wedge, [4]

But I'm not a "particular" robber; I smug any snowy I see on the hedge, [5]

And I ain't above daisies and clobber. [6]

III

One day I'd a spree with two firms in my brigh, [7]

And a toy and a tackle--both red 'uns; [8]

And a spark prop a pal (a good screwsman) and I [9]

Had touched for in working two dead 'uns.