eagerness

He snatched it up with
And eke with joy and glee,
Then bowing of his head he said,

"You're welcome, Sir, to me.”

Then getting all upon dry land,
He to his wife did say,

"My other hat, you know my dear,
"Was carried quite away."

"But this, more honest, comes again,
"And when I get him home,
"I'll keep him safe within a box
"That he no more shall roam."

Beneath his arm his hat he plac'd,

You'll guess the reason why,

In hopes before they came away,
It might again be dry.

And in this state they march'd along

Unto the gardens gay,

Where he was vex'd to find he had

Four shillings for to pay.

But scarcely had he pass'd the door

And to the place got in,

When "Here's John Gilpin! all did roar,

"And all did laugh and grin."

The ladies with their beaux and wits,

Came crowding all around,

And cried-" John Gilpin! Is it you? "Pray whither are you bound?"

John answer'd not, but with his wife

And daughters went along,

To listen to the music sweet,

And hear a pretty song.

Oh! charming! cried the Misses both, "Do Papa,-Mamma, Hark!” "I'm sure! Oh dear! that thrilling voice "Is sweeter than a Lark!"

"Ah! Ah! said Gilpin, that will do,

"It's very fine in brief,

"But I should rather like to hear

66 6 'Britannia,' or 'Roast Beef.'"

Then turning round, the trees he view'd
With orchestra so fine,

The waiters running here and there
With chicken, ham and wine.

But as he turn'd too suddenly,
"Tis sad the tale to tell,
Against a waiter's hand he struck,

And down a bottle fell!

All in a stream the wine it flow'd,
Which gave to him much pain,
Yet he for it was forc'd to pay
And it was dear champagne.

He thought it hard to pay for that
Which he did never taste,

His frugal wife was not well pleas'd
To see it run in waste.

"Howe'er" said she, "such accidents

"Will happen you do know, "But never mind it,-we must have "Some wine before we go."

His daughters, as the story tells
Thought ham and chick right fit,
Because their appetites now serv'd
To pick a little bit.

At this, John Gilpin bent his brow,
His lady cried," my dear,
"Pray let us do as others do,

"Since we have now come here."

The wine, the ham, the chick was brought,
With tarts and cheese-cakes too,-
On ev'ry thing he comments made
And carefully did view.

"What! two and sixpence for a chick!"

He said "was plaguy dear,"
The wine was short, he'd rather had

A pot of "Truman's beer.”

The wine was port, and he survey'd

The bottle in each part,

And said, "I'm sure it wants three gills, "To make a little quart."

He ate and grumbl'd all the while,

He grumbl'd though he paid,

For still to pay, was Gilpin's way,
By every one 'twas said.

A chaise was call'd which griev'd him sore, In which they roll'd away,

And Gilpin thought, he ne'er would have, Another holiday.

END OF PART III.

ORIGIN OF THE BALLAD OF JOHN GILPIN.'

&

those who are acquainted with the history of the Poet Cowper, it is known that he was at times subject to great mental depression, and it was a matter of no small difficulty to remove the deep and melancholy gloom which shed its darkening influence over his mind. His acquaintance however, with Lady Austen, who possessed almost irresistible conversational powers, proved highly beneficial to the Poet's mind, and contributed greatly to remove that painful depression of spirits to which he was subject. On one occasion, when she observed him to be sinking into rather an unusually melancholy mood, she exerted, as she was invariably accustomed to do, her utmost ability to afford him immediate relief. It occurred to her, that she might then probably accomplish it, by telling him a story of 'John Gilpin,' which she had treasured up in her memory from her childhood. The amusing incidents of the story itself, and the happy manner in which it was related, had the desired effect;-it dissipated the gloom of the passing hour, and he informed Lady Austen the next morning, that convulsions of laughter brought on by the recollection of her story, had kept him awake during the greater part of the night, and that he had composed a Poem upon the subject. Hence arose this fascinating and amusing Ballad, which rapidly found its way into all the periodical publications of the day, and was admired by readers of every description. Its happy influence on his own mind on subsequent occasions, is thus adverted