_If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse’s feet,_
_Don’t go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,_
_Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie._
_Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!_
_Five and twenty ponies_
_Trotting through the dark;_
_Brandy for the Parson,_
_’Baccy for the Clerk_
_Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,_
_And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!_
_Running round the woodlump if you chance to find_
_Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandywined;_
_Don’t you shout to come and look, nor take ’em for your play;_
_Put the brishwood back again,—and they’ll be gone next day!_
_If you see the stableyard setting open wide;_
_If you see a tied horse lying down inside;_
_If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;_
_If the lining’s wet and warm—don’t you ask no more!_
_If you meet King George’s men, dressed in blue and red,_
_You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said._
_If they call you ’pretty maid,’ and chuck you ’neath the chin,_
_Don’t you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one’s been!_
_Knocks and footsteps round the house—whistles after dark—_
_You’ve no call for running out till the house-dogs bark._
Trusty’s _here, and_ Pincher’s _here, and see how dumb they lie—_
_They don’t fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by!_
_If you do as you’ve been told, likely there’s a chance,_
_You’ll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France,_
_With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood—_
_A present from the Gentlemen, along o’ being good!_
_Five and twenty ponies,_
_Trotting through the Park—_
_Brandy for the Parson,_
_’Baccy for the Clerk._
_Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie._
_Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!_
‘DYMCHURCH FLIT’