The songs of Joseph Mather

Numbers of lads there were present,
From Kimberworth, Brightside, and Masbro',
Each with a countenance pleasant,
His true love did cuddle and clasp her:
Stephen turned out with his fiddle,
Each lad took his lass by the middle,
Went reeling about like a riddle,
As if they had been enchanted;
Care, the forerunner of sorrow,
Was kick'd out of doors till to-morrow,
Not one in his spirit was narrow,
Then boh! cried Tiger, undaunted,

CHORUS.

Hey! cried Tidswell and Tiger,
See crowds in almost ev'ry station,
Flocking to Cock-tail most eager,
To celebrate Ball's restoration.

Tiger, connected with Jemmy,
Conducted Ball out of the stable,
Join'd in the yard by old Sammy,
Who ale-fied came from the table:
Ball being well prim'd with ginger
Was sit to jump over the fences;
Neighbours, as well as each stranger,
All thought they were out of their senses.
Samuel, who hates to be idle,
Took hold of old Ball by the bridle,
Then gave him a kick made him sidle,
So went four rounds as they wanted;
Right hand and left they did clever,
Made Jem to squint harder than ever,
He promis'd his partner some liver,
Then boh! cried Tiger undaunted.

Out jump'd the calf elevated.
The cow broke her rope and ran after,
Shout upon shout it created,
And fill'd the spectators with laughter;
Tidswell, the cow was so named,
Because at that fair they bought her,
She ran at Tiger untamed,
To fork him as nature had taught her.
Tiger at that was displeas'd,
Which caus'd a fresh dust to be rais'd;
Her nose in a moment he seiz'd,
At which old Samuel ranted.
Tidswell took off like be-madded,
O'er mother and daughter she gadded.
Huzzas in abundance were added,
Then boh! cried Tiger undaunted.

Stephen, tho' blind as a beetle,
Laugh'd hard at Hannah's disaster;
He lost no time with his fiddle,
His elbow went quicker and faster.
Ball cut such new-fashioned capers,
Which really by-standers amaz'd;
All his four feet were as tapers,
The pavement it perfectly blaz'd:
Samuel, nor no one that join'd him,
Durst venture their carcase behind him,
Tho' age in a manner did blind him;
No colt could win him 'twas granted,
Tidswell caught Tiger and toss'd him,
Quite out of the ring till she'd lost him,
Tho' many a bruise it did cost him,
Still boh! cried Tiger undaunted,

Sam'el imbib'd a wrong spirit,
Tho' hundreds and thousands were charm'd,
Curs'd poor old Ball for his merit,
And Jem who his fundament warm'd:
Tidswell bled hard at her snort-horn,
Where Tiger was constantly aiming,
That by old Sam'el was not borne,
And thus he began of exclaiming:
Blow up the gantries and barrels,
Kate's mouse-trap, that breeder of quarrels,
And all the night owls without laurels,
By which our stag room is haunted;

Sounding-board, hat, balloon-bonnet,
That head-dress, my curse be upon it,
For ever this shall be my sonnet,
Then boh! cried Tiger undaunted.

PART SECOND.

Oceans to drink being call'd for,
Hot cuddle-me-buff was the liquor,
“Wife of my own” Jemmy call for,
Old Hannah cried “Stephen” play quicker.

Off they went after each other,
As if they had quicksilver in them,
Join'd by first one then another,
You never saw aught that could win them,
Setting down sides then up again,
Crossing o'er couples, so up again,
Sam'el inspired with his cup again,
Of his activity vaunted;
Ball being prim'd with the rest of them,
F---ed and kick'd with the best of them,
Seemingly made a mere jest of them,
Boh! cried Tiger undaunted.

CHORUS.

Hey! Tidswell and Tiger,
Dame Jenkinson, look to your smock-tail,
Crowds from all quarters ran eager,
To scamper amongst them in Cock-tail.

Tidswell when Tiger pursuing
Threw up mother Jenkinson's smock-tail;
Jem whilst her marigold viewing,
Cried hey! for the humours in Cock-tail!
One o'er another they tumbled,
You scarce could see faces for a---s;
Tiger at some of them grumbled,
Supposing some—were faces.
Some were intent upon heel and toe,
Others ran hedge and bind to and fro,
Sam'el to Ball shouted Stand still, wo!
Wind a bit lads, for he panted.
Ball thro' some misapprehension,
To Sam'el paid no great attention,
But started at all he could mention;
Then boh! cried Tiger, undaunted.

Hotbread was there with his barrow.
So Tiger for mischief ran under;
Tidswell pursued him so narrow,
Nice apples and pears she did sunder;

Nosey she instantly seated
Betwixt her two horns with her basket;
Tiger for manners retreated,
And left the old virgin to risk it,
As she kept gadding thro' thick and thin;
“Buy or toss, now you are sure to win,
Up with it, lads, and I'll put it in.”
This was the song that she chaunted—
“Kill-grief and hearts-ease I've got to sell;
Gingerbread, taste, it will please you well:”
When from her element down she fell,
Boh! cried Tiger, undaunted.

Ball by a sudden manœuvre
His heel turned round to Muck Josey,
Kick'd him thrice over and over,
With his face at the a---e of old Nosey.
Nosey had dropt a face card,
Thro' the fall of her exalted station,
Josey snuffed up very hard,
Being happy in his situation;
Sam'el at that hung his slipper,
Whilst Jem with his ginger and pepper
Applied a bit more to Ball's crupper.
Of which he never repented:
Ball steered his course with fresh vigour,
Determin'd to go to the rigour,
Ran open-mouth'd after bold Tiger,
Still, Boh! cried Tiger, undaunted.

Tiger run under Ball's belly,
All danger like Rodney kept scorning,
Some thought he was rather silly,
For Ball was new frosted that morning;
Sam'el got hurt in the scuffle,
As Ball his forefeet was advancing,
That seem'd his temper to ruffle,
And quite put an end to their dancing,
Then they dismis'd in civility,
Talking of Ball's great agility,
Tidswell and Tiger's fidelity,
Which kind nature implanted;
How the four brutes in particular,
Danc'd with their tails perpendicular,
Straight forwards, sideways, and circular,
Boh! cried Tiger, undaunted.

University of Virginia Library

SONG LII. THE COCK-TAIL FEAST.

[PART FIRST.]

CHORUS.

PART SECOND.

CHORUS.