Good luck!' quoth he-' yet bring it me,

: My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword

When I do exercise.'

Now Mrs. Gilpin, careful soul !

Had two stone bottles found, To hold the liquor that she loved,

And keep it safe and sound. Fach bottle had a carling ear,

Through which the belt he drew; And hung a bottle on each side,

To make his balance true.

Now see him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones,

With caution and good heed.

But finding soon a smoother road

Beneath its well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,

Which galled him in his seat.

"So ! fair and softly!" John he cried,

But John he cried in vain;
The trot became a gallop soon,

In spite of carb and rein.
So stooping down, as needs he must,

Who cannot sit upright,
He grasped the mane with both his hands,

And eke with all his might.

His horse, who never in that sort

Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back he got,

Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin, neck or nought,

Away went hat and wig;
He little dreamt when he set out,

Of running such a rig.

The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,

Like streamer long and gay, Till loop and button failing both,

At last it flew away.

Then might all people well discern

The bottles he had slung:
A bottle swinging at each side,

As hath been said or sung.

The dogs did bark, the children screamed,

Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, “ Well done!"

As loud as he could bawl.

Away went Gilpin--who but he ?

His fame soon spread around“He carries weight! he rides a race,

'Tis for a thousand pound.”

And still as fast as he drew near,

'Twas wonderful to view, How in a trice the turnpike-men

Their gates wide open threw

And now as he went bowing down

His reeking head full low,
The bottles twain behind his back,

Were shattered at a blow.

Down ran the wine into the road,

Most piteous to be seen,
Which made his horse's flanks to smoke,

As they had basted been.

But still he seemed to carry weight,

With leathern girdle braced ; For all might see the bottle necks

Still dangling at his waist.

At Edmonton, his loving wife

From balcony espied
Her tender husband, wondering much

To see how he did ride.

66

Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! here's the house,"

They all at once aid cry; “The dinner waits, and we are tired :"

Said Gilpin—" so am I.”

Away went Gilpin, out of breath,

And sore against his will,
Till at his friend's the calender's

The horse at last stood still.

The calender, amazed to see

His neighbour in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,

And thus accosted him :

“What news ? what news ? your tidings tell,

Tell me you must and shallSay why bareheaded you are come,

Or why you come at all ?"
"I came, because your horse would come,

And, if I well forbode,
My hat and wig will soon be here,

They are upon the road.”

The calender, right glad to find

His friend in merry pin, Returned him not a single word,

But to the house went in.

“But let me scrape the dirt away

That hangs upon your face;
And stop and eat, for well you may

Be in a hungry case.'

Said John, “It is my wedding-day,

And all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmontou,

And I should dine at Ware."

Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast!

For which he paid full dear,
For while he spake, a braying ass,

Did sing most loud and clear;

Whereat his horse did snort, as he

Had heard a lion roar;
And galloped off with all his might,

As he had done before.

Away went Gilpin, and away

Went Gilpin's hat and wig:
He lost them sooner than at first,

For why? they were too big.
Six gentlemen upon the road

Thus seeing Gilpin fly,
With postboy scampering in the rear,

They raised the hue and cry.
Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman !”

Not one of them was mute:
And all and each that passed that way

Did join in the pursuit.
And now the turnpike gater again

Flew open in short space;
The tollmen thinking as before,

That Gilpin rode a race.
And so he did, and won it too,

For he got first to town;
Nor stopped till where he first got up,

He did again get down.
Now let us sing, “ long live the king,

And Gilpin, long live he;"
And when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to see !

COWPER.

HOME AND CLASS WORK. Learn the spellings at the beginning of the poem, and

write out sentences containing these words.