Punch (9.1845)

202 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

JOHN BULL'S LOCOMOTIVE LEG

TJSf

I'll sing you a song of one John Bull,
"Who ate good beef and wore fine wool,
And bragg'd each morn that none could pull
From his breeches-pocket a purse more fail.
Bl tooral, looral, &c.

That purse he'd fill'd by honest pains,
But, not content with his lawful gains,
To add to his store he rack'd his brains,
To get more money and new domains.
Ri tooral, looral, &c.

Some humbugs great in depredation,
Came and made him a long oration ;
They wanted a flat for victimisation,
So they got him to dabble in speculation.
Ri tooral, looral, &c.

Said John, " Your plan my mind contents,
I 'in sick and tired of the Three per Cents ;
And don't get enough by my paltry rents : "
So he got hooked in by the Railway "gents."
Ri tooral, looral, &c.

These arrant gamblers, it would seem.
Had greenhorns made their study and theme ;
They set their wits to work by steam,
And they wheedled him into their swindling scheme !
Ri tooral, locral, &c.

The fastest way to wealth, they said,
Would be by steam to go ahead ;
And thus by the nose their dupe was led,
Till John was caught in the net they spread.
Ri tooral, looral, &c.

They made him a hobby to ride upon,
"With a strong steam-power to move it on ;
And all his sober senses gone,
They bound thereto the foolish John. ■
Ri tooral, looral, &c.

But first before they bade him start,
With wondrous craft and singular art,
To lighten his weight, they made him part
"With the money that lay so near his heart.
Ri tooral, looral, &c.