And the matter to mend, now my bill was near due, So I wrote to my friend, and just asked to renew; He replied he was sorry he couldn't, because The bill had pa.s.sed into a usurer's claws.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, "But perhaps he'll renew it," said Billy Barlow.

I applied; to renew he was quite content, If secured, and allowed just three hundred per cent.; But as I couldn't do, Barr, Rodgers, and Co.

Soon sent up a summons for Billy Barlow.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, They soon settled the business of Billy Barlow.

For a month or six weeks I stewed over my loss, And a tall man rode up one day on a black horse; He asked, "Don't you know me?" I answered him "No."

"Why," said he, "my name's Kinsmill; how are you, Barlow?"

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, He'd got a fi. fa. for poor Billy Barlow.

What I'd left of my sheep and my traps he did seize, And he said, "They won't pay all the costs and my fees;"

Then he sold off the lot, and I'm sure 'twas a sin, At sixpence a head, and the station giv'n in.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, "I'll go back to England," said Billy Barlow.

My sheep being sold, and my money all gone, Oh, I wandered about then quite sad and forlorn; How I managed to live it would shock you to know, And as thin as a lath got poor Billy Barlow.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, Quite down on his luck was poor Billy Barlow.

And in a few weeks more, the sheriff, you see, Sent the tall man on horseback once more unto me; Having got all he could by the writ of fi. fa., By way of a change he'd brought up a ca. sa.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, He seized on the body of Billy Barlow.

He took me to Sydney, and there they did lock Poor unfortunate Billy fast "under the clock;"

And to get myself out I was forced, you must know The schedule to file of poor Billy Barlow.

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, In the list of insolvents was Billy Barlow.

Then once more I got free, but in poverty's toil; I've no "cattle for salting," no "sheep for to boil;"

I can't get a job-though to any I'd stoop, If it was only the making of portable soup."

Oh dear, lackaday, oh, Pray give some employment to Billy Barlow.