Songs and Ballads for The People By the Rev. John M. Neale |
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| I. |
| II. | II. The Teetotallers. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
 | Songs and Ballads for The People |  |
II. The Teetotallers.
1
And so the Teetotallers meet here to-day!Well! they talk very big, and they look very gay;
And they tease me to join them from morning till night;
But first I've one question, and that's—Is it right?
2
They talk a great deal about taking the vow,How they once used to drink, and are temperate now;
Well! I can't see the virtue, or glory at least,
Of promising not to turn into a beast.
3
Or supposing there were,—they have taken beforeAll the vows they now take, ay, and very much more:
Not from drinking alone, but all sin to abstain;
When they first were baptis'd—and why take it again?
4
God's command is what all men at once should obey,Not to drink to excess;—do they keep it? Not they!
They make a new vow for themselves, and then think
They are vastly good Christians in keeping from drink!
5
I should just like to ask these same excellent men,Why they vow but to keep one command out of ten?
Why, a man may lie, curse, steal, or swear, if he will,
And yet be a perfect Teetotaller still!
6
It is just the same thing as if I were to say,“My boys, go and work in my orchard to-day:
There is plenty of fruit on the trees—but take care
That you don't, for your lives, touch an apple or pear.”
7
Says Jack, “Oh! no, father! But don't you mistake—We won't touch the fruit,—but it's not for your sake:
It's because we've agreed not an apple to pick!”—
D'ye think I should thank him, or give him the stick?
8
Or suppose that young Bill, like a rogue, should reply:“Touch the apples? your apples? dear father, not I!
5
I should think, Why, most likely he'll set on the pears.
9
There is but one vow God commands us to take,When we first are baptis'd, which we never must break;
So may those who make new ones be left in the lurch!
There's but one Temp'rance Union, and that is—the Church!
| Songs and Ballads for The People | |