Project Gutenberg's The Diverting History of John Gilpin, by William Cowper

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Title: The Diverting History of John Gilpin

Author: William Cowper

Release Date: April 9, 2004 [EBook #11979]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The Diverting History of John Gilpin

One of R. Caldecott's Picture Books

1878

[Illustration: The Diverting History of John Gilpin]

[Illustration]

==THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN:==

_Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home
again._

[Illustration: Written by William Cowper with drawings by R. Caldecott.]

John Gilpin was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he,
Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
"Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.

"To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair
Unto the 'Bell' at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.

"My sister, and my sister's child,
Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaise; so you must ride
On horseback after we."
[Illustration: The Linendraper bold]

He soon replied, "I do admire
Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.

"I am a linendraper bold,
As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender
Will lend his horse to go."

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well said;
And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnished with our own,
Which is both bright and clear."

John Gilpin kissed his loving wife.
O'erjoyed was he to find.
That though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

The morning came, the chaise was brought,
But yet was not allowed
To drive up to the door, lest all
Should say that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stayed,