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were tags,As in his own countrie.
when hungry and cold,
Yet, where such plenty seem’d of allA hungry lad mote need,Tho’ rags were there he did not care:He could not fail to speed.
he is neither fed by the victualler;
So at a shop he made a stop:Before his well-spread boardThe vict’ller stood, in jolly mood;Dick thought he was a lord.
In cap ydight and waistcoat whiteHe beckon’d folks within;While fumes arose to tell the noseOf all that savoury bin.
Dick’s joy was great to see the meat;So in he ran with haste:Alas! roast beef is nought but griefTo such as may not taste.
The vict’ller’s eye right scornfullyScann’d Dick from foot to head;Who begg’d, for love of God above,A bit of meat and bread.
“For one small groat it may be bought;“I’faith it is not dear:“But no sirloin withouten coin,“Nor room for beggars here.”
Thereat a pamper’d cur rush’d forthAnd bit Dick’s naked feet:Who by the wrathful victuallerWas shoved into the street.
nor covered by the clothier;
Next shivering in his tatter’d dressHe view’d a clothier’s store;But, as he was all penniless,They drove him from the door.
Ah, tradesmen sleek! ah, Christians meek!Why will ye swell with pride,When ragged want or wretched woeStands shivering at your side?
nor even heeded by any body.
Alas, poor boy! what could he do?The busy crowd swept past:But all on self intent, or pelf,No eye on him was cast.
He strove to beg: some heard him not,And some would not believe:Some heard him and believed him too,But yet would not relieve.
Want most grievous in the midst of plenty.
Oh! hunger is a galling thing,Where nought is there to eat;But three times more it galleth soreTo starve midst bread and meat.
At last he is noticed by a merchant-citizen,
Now just as Dick all spent and sickHad laid him down to die,A citizen of gentle mienIt chanced came walking by.
A merchant he of high degree,With ruffles all of lace;And Nature’s true nobilityWas blazon’d in his face.
who takes him home, and feeds him.
He up did pick and home led Dick,And gave him food to eat:Then sent him to a clean warm bed,Not back into the street.
“Thank God! for that I pass’d that way“This night,“ the good man cried;“For had I walk’d another way,“Poor boy! he might have died.”
The morning come, Dick early rose,And thank’d him from his heart;And told him how no friend on earthHe had to take his part.
This merchant becomes his friend.
“Then I’m your friend,” the kind man cried,“And you shall live with me:“And you shall tend my merchandize,“And keep my granary.”
and employs him in his granary;
How danced for joy the lucky boy,To see his alter’d plight!He watch’d his granary by day,And lock’d it fast by night.
Now stored within this granary,Were corn and wine and oil,And cheese and other precious thingsWhich rats and mice do spoil.
where there lived a cat,
So there with Dick ydwelt a cat;A tabby cat was she:As sleek and soft, and eke as fat,As any cat could be.
of social temper,
And she about his legs would purr,And on his knees would sit;And every meal he took, for herHe saved a dainty bit.
and high quality.
And not a mouse came near her houseBut swallow’d was alive:And not a rat but felt her pat:No wonder she did thrive!
The birth of a kitten:
Now scarce three moons had waned and fill’d,Since Dick’s lone hours she cheer’d,When at her side, as Heaven will’d,A kitten there appear’d.
and Dick’s twofold delight thereafter.
Then Dick’s delight was doubled quite;For one may well avouch,Whatever fun there was in oneIn two was twice as much.
This kitten’s surpassing beauty,
All black and red this kitten’s headLook’d like a polish’d stone:All red and black this kitten’s backLike tortoiseshell it shone.
Full sure I am that well its damMight dote on such a kit:The very rats that flee from catsWould stand and stare at it.
and most pleasant humour.
Its tail it whisk’d and leapt and frisk’d,In weather fair and foul:Or cold, or hot, it matter’d notTo such a merry soul.
But who could see such joyful gleeAnd not be joyous too?So Dick forgot his sorry lotAnd laugh’d as others do.
Dick acquires his first property.
Which when the merchant saw, and howThe kitten it was grown,Of his free gift to WhittingtonHe gave it for his own.
