Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 35

[7: steal; handkerchief]

[8: housebreaking]

[9: highwayman]

[10: money]

[11: cart; Notes]

THE CADGER'S BALL [Notes]

[1852]

[From JOHN LABERN'S _Popular Comic Song Book_. Tune--_Joe Buggins._].

I

Oh, what a spicy flare-up, tear-up, Festival Terpsickory, Was guv'd by the genteel cadgers In the famous Rookery.

As soon as it got vind, however, Old St Giles's vos to fall-- They all declar'd, so help their never, They'd vind up vith a stunnin' ball!

Tol, lol lol, etc.

II

Jack Flipflap took the affair in hand, sirs-- Who understood the thing complete-- He'd often danced afore the public, On the boards, about the streets.

Old Mother Sw.a.n.key, she consented To lend her lodging-house for nix-- [1]

Say's she, 'The crib comes down to-morrow, So, go it, just like beans and bricks.' [2]

Tol, lol lol, etc.

III

The night arrived for trotter-shaking-- [3]

To Mother Sw.a.n.key's snoozing-crib; [4]

Each downy cadger was seen taking His bit of muslin, or his rib. [5]

Twelve candles vos stuck into turnips, Suspended from the ceiling queer-- Bunn's blaze of triumph was all pickles To this wegetable shandileer.

Tol, lol lol, etc.

IV

Ragged Jack, wot chalks 'Starvation !'

Look'd quite fat and swellish there-- While d.i.c.k, wot 'dumbs it' round the nation, Had all the jaw among the fair.

Limping Ned wot brought his d.u.c.h.ess, At home had left his wooden pegs-- And Jim, wot cadges it on crutches, Vos the nimblest covey on his legs.

Tol, lol lol, etc.

V

The next arrival was old Joe Burn, Wot does the fits to Natur chuff-- And Fogg, And Fogg, wot's blind each day in Ho'born, Saw'd his way there clear enough, Mr. Sinniwating Sparrow, In corduroys span new and nice, Druv up in his pine-apple barrow, Which he used to sell a win a slice. [6]

Tol, lol lol, etc.

VI

The ball was open'd by fat Mary, Togg'd out in book muslin pure, [7]

And Saucy Sam, surnamed 'The Lary,'

Who did the '_Minuit-on-a-squre.'_ While Spifflicating Charley c.o.ker, And Jane of the Hatchet-face divine, Just did the Rowdydowdy Poker, And out of Greasy took the shine. [8]

Tol, lol lol, etc.

VII

The Sillywarious next was done in Tip-top style just as it should, By Muster and Missus Mudfog, stunning, Whose hair curled like a bunch of wood.

The folks grinn'd all about their faces, 'Cos Mudfog--prince of flashy bucks-- Had on a pair of pillow Cases, Transmogrified slap into ducks!

Tol, lol lol, etc.

VIII

The celebrated Pa.s.s de Sandwich To join in no one could refuse-- Six bushels on 'em came in, and wich Wanish'd in about two two's.

The Gatter Waltz next followed arter-- [9]

They lapp'd it down, right manful-ly, [10]

Until Joe Guffin and his darter, Was in a state of Fourpen-ny!

Tol, lol lol, etc.

IX

Next came the Pa.s.s de Fascination Betwixt Peg Price and Dumby d.i.c.k-- But Peg had sich a corporation, He dropp'd her like a red hot brick.

The company was so enraptur'd, They _buckets_ of vall flowers threw-- But one chap flung a bunch of turnips, Which nearly split d.i.c.k's nut in two.

Tol, lol lol, etc.

X

The dose now set to gallopading, And stamp'd with all their might and main-- They thump'd the floor so precious hard-in, It split the ancient crib in twain, [11]

Some pitch'd in the road, bent double-- Some was smash'd with bricks--done brown-- So the cadgers saved 'The Crown' the trouble Of sending coves to pull it down.

Tol, lol lol, etc.

[1: nothing]

[2: merrily]

[3: walking]

[4: lodging-house]

[5: sweetheart; wife]

[6: penny]

[7: dressed]

[8: Grisi?]

[9: beer]

[10: drunk]

[11: house]

"DEAR BILL, THIS STONE-JUG" [Notes]

[1857]