Reminiscences, in Prose and Verse Consisting of the Epistolary Correspondence of Many Distinguished Characters. With Notes and Illustrations. By the Rev. R. Polwhele |
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 | II. |
Truro Ten-pounders. |
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 | Reminiscences, in Prose and Verse |  |
Truro Ten-pounders.
My townsmen erst were pleasant folks,
From Keyhead to the Castle:
At every corner cracking jokes!
'Twas one continual wassal.
From Keyhead to the Castle:
At every corner cracking jokes!
'Twas one continual wassal.
With no proud gait—no scowling eye,
No sanctified grimaces,
From Atty White to parson Pye,
They all had happy faces.
No sanctified grimaces,
From Atty White to parson Pye,
They all had happy faces.
The merry dames—they boil'd their crocks—
Ah! not for dolts or loons:
The Corporation clung to cocks —
Their wives to macaroons.
Ah! not for dolts or loons:
The Corporation clung to cocks —
Their wives to macaroons.
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But now, alas! through all the streets,
If Truro look around her,
She shudders at a hiss, or meets
The strut of a Ten-pounder.
If Truro look around her,
She shudders at a hiss, or meets
The strut of a Ten-pounder.
From almost every mother's son
She hears some fearful rumour;
And sighs to think, that scarcely one
Hath either wit or humour!
She hears some fearful rumour;
And sighs to think, that scarcely one
Hath either wit or humour!
There was one quaint saying of old Pye, which ought to be recorded, as it may be of practical use. A clergyman offering him a burial-fee, Pye—certainly not averse to money—refused to take it. “No, no,” said he: “pig never eats pig.” Perhaps I ought not to repeat his remark, “Truro is in one respect only like the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’—‘they are neither married nor given in marriage.’”
| Reminiscences, in Prose and Verse | |