A History of the Cries of London Part 30

I've got them for the young or old._

[Ill.u.s.tration: STICKS AND CANES.]

How sloven like the school-boy looks, Who daubs his books at play; Give him a new one? No, adzooks!

Give him a Cane, I say.

_Buy my fine Gooseberries! Fine Gooseberries!

Three-pence a quart! Ripe Gooseberries!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOOSEBERRIES.]

Ripe gooseberries in town you'll buy As cheap as cheap can be; Of many sorts you hear the cry; Pray purchase, sir, of me!

_Pears for pies! Come feast your eyes!

Ripe Pears, of every size, who'll buy?_

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIPE PEARS.]

Pears ripe, pears sound, This woman cries all day; Pears for pies, long or round, Come buy them while you may.

_One a penny, two a penny, hot Cross Buns!

One a penny, two a penny, hot Cross Buns!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: HOT CROSS BUNS.]

Think on this sacred festival; Think why Cross Buns were given; Then think of Him who dy'd for all, To give you right to Heaven.

_Maids, I mend old Pans or Kettles, Mend old Pans or Kettles, O!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TINKER.]

Hark, who is this? the Tinker bold, To mend or spoil your kettle, Whose wife I'm certain is a scold, Made of basest metal.

_Buy my Capers! Buy my nice Capers!

Buy my Anchovies! Buy my nice Anchovies!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: CAPERS, ANCHOVIES.]

How melodious the voice of this man, The Capers he says are the best; His Anchovies too, beat 'em who can, Are constantly found in request.

_Mulberries, all ripe and fresh to day!

Only a groat a pottle--full to the bottom!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: MULBERRIES.]

Mulberries, ripe and fresh to-day, They warm and purify the blood; Have them a groat a pottle you may.

They are all fres.h.!.+ they are all good!

_Buy my c.o.c.kles! Fine new c.o.c.kles!

c.o.c.kles fine, and c.o.c.kles new!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: NEW c.o.c.kLES.]

c.o.c.kles fine; and c.o.c.kles new, They are as fine as any.

c.o.c.kles! New c.o.c.kles, O!

I sell a good lot for a penny, O!

_Buy fine Flounders! Fine Dabs! All alive, O!

Fine Dabs! Fine live Flounders, O!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: BUY FINE FLOUNDERS! FINE DABS!]

There goes a tall fish-woman sounding her cry, "Who'll buy my fine flounders, and dabs, who'll buy?"

Poor flounder, he heaves up his fin with a sigh, And thinks that _he_ has most occasion to cry; "Ah, neighbour," says dab, "indeed, so do I."

_Buy my nice and new Banbury Cakes!

Buy my nice new Banbury Cakes, O!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: BANBURY CAKES.]

Buy Banbury Cakes! By fortune's frown, You see this needy man, Along the street, and up and down, Is selling all he can.

_Buy my Lavender! Sweet blooming Lavender!

Sweet blooming Lavender! Blooming Lavender!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: LAVENDER.]

Lavender! Sweet blooming lavender, Six bunches for a penny to-day!

Lavender! sweet blooming lavender!

Ladies, buy it while you may.

_Live Mackerel! Three a-s.h.i.+lling, O!

Le'ping alive, O! Three a-s.h.i.+lling O!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: MACKEREL.]

Live Mackerel, oh! fresh as the day!

At three for a s.h.i.+lling, is giving away; Full row'd, like bright silver they s.h.i.+ne; Two persons on one can sup or dine.