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SALFORD FAIR.

By Mr Thomas Wilson.
Come Sam an' Jack, an' Bill an' Dick, an' Ned an' Joe an' Dan,
And Kit an' Sal, an' Madge an' Mal, an' Dol an' Bess an' Nan;
41

Aw've been to Sawfort fair, yo'st year what aw seed there;
For fun an' cakes it bangs eawr wakes,—laws! how aw did but stare!
Tooral, looral, &c.
O'er Sawfort Bridge I took my way, and down to th' wayter-side;
Loud was th' cry, “Come toss or buy,”—“A ha'penny a ride.”
There 's wooden horses here, and flying boxes there.
O th' wenches laugh'd and hid their face, it made them feel so queer.
Tooral, &c.
“Here 's civil Will, all in th' well,”—“Here 's one down, who makes two?”
“Come turn about, for nuts and fruit.” Good laws! how th' money flew!
But when aw turn'd me round, aw thought aw 'd been at sea,
For crowds o' folks geet into boats, an' theere they sail'd away.
Tooral, &c.
Then straight up th' brow I coom, and went up Sawfort Street,
Aw thowt aw 'd been at Karsy Moor, such theawsands aw did meet;
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There wur wenches wi'their beaux, a-walkin'into shows;
An' sowdjers marching up an' deawn, a-listin' drunken foos!
Tooral, &c.
Good laws! what birds and beasts and frightful things wur theere;
They show'd the picturs at th' eawtside, and put me in great fear.
And Sawfort bells did ring, and bands o' music play'd,
And theere owd Punch wur beatin' th' wife:—laws! what fun they made!
Tooral, &c.
Such licksome stuff aw ne'er did see i' Englondshire afore.
Wi' apples, jannocks, nuts, and cakes, each stond was cover't o'er.
Reet weel aw stuff't my hide, and then aw did set sail
To th' Blackamoor i' th' owd churchyard, and theere geet drunk wi' ale.
Tooral, &c.
At th' Blackamoor aw stopp'd o' neet; i' th' morn aw coom away;
But if th' brass had not been done, aw 'd stopp'd another day.
And now aw tell yo plain, yo women and yo men,
If aw be wick and hearty too, next year aw'll goo again.
Tooral, &c.
 

A song, having the same title and subject, written by Michael Wilson, the father, will be found page 19.

When this song was written, there was a large square space on the site of what is now called the Cloth Hall, called the Stanyhurst. Here all the roundabout horses, flying boxes, &c., were stationed; and upon its bank boats plied across the Irwell to Hunt's Bank, to and fro, at a halfpenny per head.

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