THE SHOEMAKER's FAVORITE.—A NEW SONG

Vain pleasures of this life & allurements I do slight, With all their enjoyment, each trifling delight; Every man to his work where his business does call, And I to my trade with my bristle and my awl.

While some are on sick beds, & some there are in health, While many gain learning, in credit and in wealth, They may fight for this world, they may quarrel, pull & haul, But a living I can get with my bristle and my awl.

And in the summer time while the weather it is warm, When farmers are a mowing, or hoeing of their corn, They being melted down upon the grass will sprawl, While I all comforts will enjoy with my bristle & my all.

And in the winter time while the weather's very cold, The farmers are at work their riches to unfold; And wading through the snow in the midst of it will fall, While all pleasure I enjoy with my bristle and my awal.

While the farmer does consider his condition incomplete And the study of his life is mechanics for to cheat; He that would cheat a shoemaker out of his honest pay, May the d—l take him on his back and carry him away.

In the glory of my prime from the age of seventeen, To work upon a farm I will never more be seen; But my time I will spend where the greatest profits call, And my days I will end with my bristle and my awl.

To a foolish young girl I will never be confin'd, It disturbs a free hearted, generous mind; It surrounds us with sorrow while our joy & pleasure fall And will end all my pleasures with the bristle & the awl.

We will fill up our glasses and drink a health to those Who are friends to honest tradesmen, and farmers will oppose A bowl of punch we'll have, not a drop of it shall fall, And the praises we will sing to the bristle and the awl.