ld drink no more,
Ere you left your neighbour's old fashion'd door;
And when to our market they weekly did roam,
Was sure to get tipsy ere they return'd home.
Now their manners are alter'd most steady come back,
With an ardent desire to peruse Mr. Mack;
On what he advances on the culture of land,
Most Yeomen can read and can well understand.
Refin'd are their manners, with judgment survey
Such books as by chance may fall in their way;
Book Clubs assist them the mind to refine,
Such proper support they do not decline.
The females well copy, it's daily their rule
To get further improvement when taken from school.
Miss can chat with the curate or country squire,
Most ladies these gentlemen greatly admire.
No sooner the curate a living obtain,
Then his visits renew Sir, again and again.
Although he has taken a tenth from the land,
Miss seems not inclin'd to refuse him her hand;
No longer exclaims against exactions of tithe,
A shilling advance much her spirits revive.
I dare say care little if ruin'd the town,
So she fly to the ball room or buy a new gown;
If we wish the sweet creatures should us caress,
Is to feed them with money and let them have dress
A Piano Forte will lost love regain,
In return they will play in a beautiful strain.
Old as I am, when the dear creatures play,
I'm very unwilling to hasten away.
Music they say charms the beasts in the field,
No wonder then men to such pleasures must yield.
To take a gay lass and make her your wife,
To guard off the baliffs or ward off keen strife.
He ought to have more then five hundred a year,
As a dowry at least with the delicate fair,
Some items I will in this page just put down:
Two pounds for a cap and five pounds for a gown.
Brussels lace he must purchase his wife for to please
Or else I am sure she her husband would tease.
Perhaps when he wishes to take a snug nap,
He must take her a ride to purchase a cap;
For one to her fancy she's seen at the play,
To have one just like it she cannot delay.
I mention these things, each lover to guard,
Least he after marriage find times go hard,
The worst of all troubles in this fleeting life,
Is what many know, an extravagant wife.
Too many are ruined by allowing I say
Extravagant ladies too much for to sway;
Curb her desires--if to folly is prone;
If prudent, give