[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]