Andrew Jones

Composed 1800.--Published 1800

Andrew Jones was included in the “Lyrical Ballads” of 1800, 1802, 1805, and in the Poems of 1815. It was also printed in The Morning Post, February 10, 1801. It was not republished after 1815. With this poem compare The Old Cumberland Beggar.--ED.

I hate that Andrew Jones; he’ll breed His children up to waste and pillage. I wish the press-gang or the drum Would with its rattling music come, And sweep him from the village!

I said not this, because he loves Through the long day to swear and tipple; But for the poor dear sake of one To whom a foul deed he had done, A friendless man, a travelling cripple! For this poor crawling helpless wretch Some horseman who was passing by, A penny on the ground had thrown; But the poor cripple was alone And could not stoop--no help was nigh.

Inch-thick the dust lay on the ground For it had long been droughty weather; So with his staff the cripple wrought Among the dust till he had brought The half-pennies together.

It chanced that Andrew passed that way Just at the time; and there he found The cripple in the mid-day heat Standing alone, and at his feet He saw the penny on the ground.

He stooped and took the penny up: And when the cripple nearer drew, Quoth Andrew, “Under half-a-crown, What a man finds is all his own, And so, my friend, good-day to you.”

And hence I said, that Andrew’s boys Will all be trained to waste and pillage: And wished the press-gang, or the drum Would with its rattling music come, And sweep him from the village!

1815.

With its tantara sound would come,

1800.

It chanc’d some Traveller passing by,

MS.

In the text of 1800, this line is, “He stopped and took the penny up,” but in the list of errata, “stooped” is substituted for “stopped.”--ED.

1815.

With its tantara sound would come

1800.