[NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of page]

                OYSTER

                   GIRL.

Printer, 6,              street, Oldham Road, Man-
chester; sold by John              , 176, York-street, Leeds.

As I was walking in London Street,
A pretty little Oyster Girl I chanced to meet,
And into her basket so nimbly did peep,
To see if she had got any Oysters.

Oysters, Oysters, Oysters, said she,
If you want any Oysters come buy them of me ?
They are the finest Oysters that ever you did see,
Will you please to buy any Oysters ?

O landlord, landlord, landlord, says he,
Have you got any room for a friend and me,
That we may sit down and merry, merry be,
Till we bargain for a basket of Oysters.

We had not been above an hour in the room,
Before she picked my pocket of full fifty pounds,
And gave me the slip and out of the room crept,
And left me with her basket of Oysters.

O landlord, landlord, landlord, says he,            [me,
Did you see the little Oyster Girl that came in with
She has picked my pocket of all my money,
And left me with her basket of Oysters.

Its I have travelled England, Scotland, and France,
And never in my life did I meet with such a dance,
The English girl has tricked the Frenchman at last,
And left him with her basket of Oysters.

147

          IF I HAD A THOUSAND

                      A YEAR.

Oh! if I had a thousand a year, Gaffer Green,
But I never shall have it I fear—
What a man I should be, & what things would I
Oh! if I had a thousand a year.                  [see
The best which yon can make my word, Robin Ruff
Will not pay for your bread and your beer;
But be honest & true, & say what you would do,
If you had a thousand a year.
I would do then—I cannot tell what Gaffer Green,
I would go to— I hardly know where,
Bat I'd scatter the chink & leave others to think,
While I liv'd on a thousand a year.               
But when you re aged and grey, Robin Ruff;
When the day of your death should drew near;
What,' midst all your pains, could you do with your
If you then had a thousand a year?         [gains
I never can tall what your at, Gaffer Green,
For you questions are always so queer
But as other folks die, I suppose so must I
What! and give up your thousand a year.
There's a world that is better then this Robin Raff,
And I hope in my heart you'll go there
Where the poorman's as great, though he'd here no
Ave, as if he'd a thousand a year.           (estate,

           ELLEN THE FAIR,

Fair Ellen one morning from her cottage had stray'd
To the next market town tript this beautiful maid,
She look'd like a goddess, so charming and fair,
Come buy my sweet posies, cried Ellen the fair

I have cowslips, I have jessamine and air bells a6
blue,
Wild roses, and eglantine, all g sten'd with dew
The lily, the queen of the valley so fair,
Come buy my sweet posies, cried Ellen the fair.

With rapture I gaz'd on this beautiful maid,
Whilst a thousand sweet smiles on her countenance
play'd.
And while I stood gazing, my heart, I declare
A captive was made by sweet Ellen the fair.

And if I could gain this fair one for my wife;
How gladly I would change my condition in life,
I would forsake the folks and the town, and repair
To dwell in the cottage with Ellen the fair

What need I care for the lords or the great,
My parents are dead I've a noble estate,
No lady on earth, nor princess shall share,
My hand or my; fortune, but Ellen the fair

A litile while after, this nobleman's son,
To marry the maid his affections had won;
While present in court the merchants did stare.
And the ladies all envied sweet Ellen the fair

147