Now to church if I take some good lady to pray,
It grieves me full sore to be kept quite away;
So I step thro' the door-way, for here 'tis the sin,
To loiter without, when one might enter in.

Then my glasses are whole, and my coach is so

neat,

I am always the first to be call'd in the street; And I'm known by the name. ('tis a name rather rare)

Of the Coachman that never asks more than his fare.

Tho' my beasts should be dull, yet I don't use them

ill;

Tho' they stumble I swear not, nor cut them up

hill;

For I firmly believe there's no charm in an oath
That can make a Nag trot, when to walk he is loth
And tho' I'm a Coachman, I'll freely confess
I beg of my Maker my labours to bless;

I praise him each morning, and pray every night, And 'tis this makes my heart feel so cheerful and light.

When I drive to a Fun'ral I care not for drink,
That is not the moment to guzzle, but think;

And I wish I cou'd add, both of Coachman and

Master,

That both of us strove to amend a bit faster.

Z.

THE

MARKET WOMAN,

OR

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

A TRUE TALE.

A

FARMER's Wife to market went
Market Day;

On every

She carried butter, pork and eggs,
The Farmer carried hay.

Throughout the Parish where she liv'd
For fraud she was renown'd;
And oft her Butter scarcely weigh'd
Twelve Ounces to the pound.

In making Cheese her practice still
Was very much the same;

She sold it for the very best,
But stole away the cream.

She lik'd to flaunt in gowns so gay,
And laces fine and thin:

And what is worst than all the rest,
She lik'd a little gin.

She knew not where to get the Cash
To pay for all she bought;
So robb'd her butter and her cheese,
Which was a wicked thought.

She

She seldom went to Parish Church
Except to shew her dress;

But spent the Sunday afternoon

In Sin and Idleness.

This is a rule you'll always find

Full nine times out of ten;

That those who don't their MAKER serve
Will not be just to Men.

Now who but she at every Fair,
Both near and far away?

The Squire's own lady was not half

So flaunting and so gay.

At every revel, every dance

For many miles around,
At every sound of fiddle heard
She constantly was found.

O! Shame to female modesty
That ever wife or Maid,
Shou'd to an Ale-house dancing go,
Where oft they are betray'd!

Her only thought was to contrive
That money might not fail,
For this her Pork was fed on grains,
Her eggs were always stale.

Her husband was an honest Man

And did not know her tricks; For tho' he felt that he grew poor, The blame he would not fix.

The neighbours ceas'd to buy her goods,
So she to market went;

And if she brought some money home
Her husband was content.

The people of the town remark’d
Her butter still grew less;
And to the Market Bailiff went,
The evil to redress.

Next Market day the Bailiff came
And walk'd his usual round;
And soon his watchful eye he fix'd
Upon her slender pound.

With terror equal to her guilt,

She mark'd his watchful eyes;
And saw him now prepar'd to weigh
Her pound much under size.

What's to be done?-Within her purse
A hoarded crown piece lay;
She plung'd it in the butter deep,
Unseen then bid him weigh!

He found the butter heavier far
Than he at first believ'd;
And said, "In truth the Woman's just,
And I have been deceiv'd."

A Farmer's wife who saw her take
The crown piece from her purse;
Resolv'd to bring her now to shame,
And make the matter worse.

She

She told the Bailiff what she saw,
Who search'd the butter trait;
And there he found the silver piece
Which made such heavy weight.

Now brought at length to public shame
This Market dame did cry,

"I find that HONESTY AT LAST
IS TRUEST POLICY.'

Now from this day the Market she
No more to enter dar'd;

For none to buy her cheating goods,
From that day ever car'd.

Her husband would not live with one
Of such an evil name;

For tho' not rich he valued much
A Farmer's honest fame.

May all who read good warning take!
May every Farmer's Wife,
Live sober, keep an honest name,
And lead a spotless life!

O never think to keep your fame
By foll'wing sinful pleasures;
Nor hope to gain an honest name
By lawless weights and measures.

Z.

THE