50
-Chakchamiecit!
The Last Shilling.
AS pensive one night in my garret I sat,
My last shilling produced on the table :
That adventurer, cried I, might a history relate,
1f to think, or to speak, it were able :
Whether fancy or magic 'twas play'd me the freak,
The face seem'd with life to be filling,
And cried, instantly speaking, or seeming, to speak,
Pay attention to me thy last shilling.
I was once the last coin of the law, a sad limb,
Who in cheating was ne'er known to falter,
'Till at length brought to justice the law cheated him,
And he paid me to buy him a halter.
A Jack Tar, all his rhino but me at an end,
With a pleasure both hearty and willing,
Though hungry himself, to a poor distress'd friend,
Wish'd it hundreds, and gave his last Shilling.
Na
HAIRSTY
"Twas the wife of his messmate, who se glist'ning eye
With pleasure ran on as she view'd me,
She chang'd me for bread, as her child she heard cry,
And at parting with tears she bedew'd me.
But I've other scenes known, riot leading the way,
Pale want then poor families chilling,
Where rakes in their revels the piper to pay,
Have spurn'd me their best friend and last Shilling.
into the
Then thyself hast been thoughtless, for profligates bail,
But to-morrow all cares thou shalt bury,
When
my little hist'ry thou offers for sale,
In the interim spend me, and be merry;
No, never, cried I, thou'rt my Mentor, my Muse,
And, grateful thy dictates fulfilling,
I'll board thee in my heart-thus men counsel refuse
'Till the lecture comes from the last Shilling.
