Says he, when you go in, in a bath you are popt in, To flounder about just like fishes, In water that looks like dirty mutton broth, Or the washings of the plates and the dishes; Then your togs are tied up tight, to make sure all is right, Like parcels put up for a sale, sir, A ticket then you get, as if you are for a trip, And a-going a journey by the rail, sir.
Then before you go to bed, you get a toke of bread, Which, if hungry, goes a small way to fill you, And if not too late at night, you may chance to be all right, To wash it down with a draught of skilley; Some they will shout out, Daddy, mind what you are about, And tip me a comfortable rug now, And be sure you see it’s whole, for I’m most jolly cold, And mind you don’t give us any bugs now.
Then you pig on a dirty floor, if you can, you’ll have a snore, And pass away time till the morning. Then you’re muster’d up pell mell, at the crank to take a spell, Just to give your cramp’d up body a good warming. Then see them all in rows in their torn and ragged clothes, Their gruel and their bread they swallow greedy, Then through London streets they roam, with neither friends or home, It’s the fate of the suffering and the needy.
Now a word I’ve got to say, to all you who poor rates pay, Tho’, of course, offence to none is intended, Before you your poor rates pay, just well look to the way, And inquire how your money is expended; Do as you’d be done to, that is the time of day, And with me you’ll agree, I am sure now, As you high taxes pay, it is but fair I say, To look a little to the comforts of the poor now.
Disley, Printer, 57, High Street, St. Giles, London.
Strange doings in London there is I declare, So listen to me and a tale you shall hear, Some hundreds each night flock to Woburn Square, To just get a peep at the Ghost Great consternation it has caused all around, And each one to his neighbour declares, Have you seen the Ghost that each night is found A dancing round Woburn Square.
They toddle along, the lame and the blind, The deaf and the dumb they will not stay behind, Saying, to Woburn Square, hasten lads, let’s be in time, And have a good look at the Ghost.
Some say that his Ghostship that walks there at night, It is Mrs. Chang the Chinaman’s wife, And some say it’s Muller again come to life, To look for the cabman his friend. But whoever it is he has no business there, And he’ll stand a good chance, so help my bob, For disturbing the good folks of Woburn Square, To find himself some day in quod.