HEAR, Lord, the song of praise and prayer, In Heaven, Thy dwelling-place, From infants made the public care, Thanks for Thy word, and for Thy day, Never to waste, in sinful play, Thy holy sabbaths more. Thanks that we hear,-but O impart To each desires sincere, That we may listen with our heart, For if vain thoughts the minds engage What hope, that, at our heedless age, Much hope, if Thou our spirits take Wisdom and bliss Thy Word bestows, And be thy mercies shower'd on those THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN; SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband Captain eke was he Of famous London town. 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 Of womankind but one, And you are she, my dearest dear, I am a linendraper bold, As all the world doth know, And my good friend the Callender 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 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, But soon came down again: 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 it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword, When I do exercise. Now Mistress 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 brush'd and neat, |