Page:A Selection of Original Songs, Scraps, Etc., by Ned Farmer (3rd ed.).djvu/132

 

The village affrighted, uprose as one man,
Got the fire engine out, a most praiseworthy plan;
And rung the bells backwards, which I don't admire,
As it led to the notion the church was on fire.
In the midst of the row
Came up Belthard, I vow,
Saying, "I've seen the ghost—it's Job Pilkington's Cow!

And so it turned out ; the old cow's back was sore
From a hurt she received at Bob Repton's barn door,
And the Cow Leech had plastered the place up quite neat
With some wool, and some pitch, and a piece of old sheet;
And she, beyond doubt,
It was, wandering about.
Who believers in ghosts had thus put to the rout.

But where is bold Anthony Crump all this while?
He lies knock'd out of time against Calloway's stile;
They shake him, and pinch him, but Crump never stirr'd,
Till the blacksmith said, "Crump, it was me that you heard';"
Then he opened his eyes
With a look of surprise.
Saying, "Honour, now, Belthard; you're not telling fibs?"

"Far from it, my friend," replied Belthard; "I went
Just to see if you really had said what you meant.
And was coming to say so, when, 'Murder!' you cried,
And went off like a racehorse; that can't be denied,"
Neighbour kindness displa'd;
Crump to bed was convey'd.
But I shall not repeat the remarks his wife made.