The footman's friendly advice To his Brethren of the Livery; And to all Servants in General: ... To which is Prefix'd, An Introduction, humbly Submitted to the Consideration of all Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies, who keep many Servants. Also a postscript, In Answer To Squire Moreton's Pamphlet, Intituled, Every Body's Business is no Body's. By R. D. [i.e. Robert Dodsley] |
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Of Receiving and Delivering MESSAGES. |
 | The footman's friendly advice |  |
Of Receiving and Delivering MESSAGES.
Though this may seem an easy Thing to do,
I fancy it may bear a Word or two:
Nay, I believe there's some are glad to own,
That it's as nice a Point as any one.
Sam Shoulder-knot was one, who us'd to swear,
He'd sooner take a Cause from Westminster,
Or bring a Sermon from the Church Verbatim,
Than take a Message from my Lady F***.
My Lady call'd me up, says Sam, one Day,
Go Sam, says she, and look'd another Way,
Go to my Lady Trifle's, and d'ye hear,
Tell her I'm just a-going she knows where;
And, if she think it proper, when I'm out,
I'll see the Party whom she spoke about
At Madam L***'s, she'll know who you mean,
And ask if Mistress P*** be within,
And tell her Mr. F***'s in Town,
And would be glad, if he cou'd do't unknown,
To see Miss B***, before he goeth down,
And let me see, ***.
I fancy it may bear a Word or two:
Nay, I believe there's some are glad to own,
That it's as nice a Point as any one.
Sam Shoulder-knot was one, who us'd to swear,
He'd sooner take a Cause from Westminster,
Or bring a Sermon from the Church Verbatim,
Than take a Message from my Lady F***.
My Lady call'd me up, says Sam, one Day,
Go Sam, says she, and look'd another Way,
Go to my Lady Trifle's, and d'ye hear,
Tell her I'm just a-going she knows where;
And, if she think it proper, when I'm out,
I'll see the Party whom she spoke about
At Madam L***'s, she'll know who you mean,
And ask if Mistress P*** be within,
And tell her Mr. F***'s in Town,
And would be glad, if he cou'd do't unknown,
To see Miss B***, before he goeth down,
And let me see, ***.
HERE she run on, quoth Sam, to something new,
But not worth while repeating now to you;
And so confounded me before she'd done,
That I scarce knew what she'd been talking on.
But not worth while repeating now to you;
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That I scarce knew what she'd been talking on.
Tho' this may be the Case of one or two,
I can't believe that there are many so;
Our Blunders and Mistakes more oft proceed,
I'm apt to think, from want of taking Heed,
From Inattention or Forgetfulness,
Than from our Master's Fault, or Mistress's.
I can't believe that there are many so;
Our Blunders and Mistakes more oft proceed,
I'm apt to think, from want of taking Heed,
From Inattention or Forgetfulness,
Than from our Master's Fault, or Mistress's.
When we receive a Message, if we stand
To hear the Words, and to receive Command,
We think we've done enough, so post away,
Nor till we come to speak think what we have to say,
This causes Hesitation and Surprize,
And thus disorder'd we our Thoughts revise,
And hence Confusion and Mistakes arise.
We want to speak, but know not what to say,
So jumble Things together any Way.
To hear the Words, and to receive Command,
We think we've done enough, so post away,
Nor till we come to speak think what we have to say,
This causes Hesitation and Surprize,
And thus disorder'd we our Thoughts revise,
And hence Confusion and Mistakes arise.
We want to speak, but know not what to say,
So jumble Things together any Way.
To remedy this Evil, first take care
To get the Meaning of the Words you hear;
Find the Design and End for which you're sent,
Think of each Circumstance, and what it meant,
And this will any gross Mistake prevent.
But in some Cases it is necessary,
Each single individual Word to carry;
For sometimes in a Word which may appear
To us, but little or no Weight to bear,
Some secret Hint or Intimation lies,
Unknown to us, nor seen by vulgar Eyes.
To get the Meaning of the Words you hear;
Find the Design and End for which you're sent,
Think of each Circumstance, and what it meant,
And this will any gross Mistake prevent.
But in some Cases it is necessary,
Each single individual Word to carry;
For sometimes in a Word which may appear
To us, but little or no Weight to bear,
Some secret Hint or Intimation lies,
Unknown to us, nor seen by vulgar Eyes.
| The footman's friendly advice | |