~John Pye and John Tye.~]
YOUR pardon, Gentles, while we thus implore,
In strains not less _awakening_ than of yore,
Those smiles we deem our best reward to catch,
And for the which we’ve long been on the _Watch_;
Well pleas’d if we that recompence obtain,
Which we have ta’en so many _steps_ to gain.
Think of the perils in our _calling past_,
The chilling coldness of the midnight blast,
The beating rain, the swiftly-driving snow,
The various ills that we must undergo,
Who roam, the glow-worms of the human race,
The living Jack-a-lanthorns of the place.
’Tis said by some, perchance, to mock our toil,
That we are prone to “_waste the midnight oil_!”
And that, a task thus idle to pursue,
Would be an idle _waste of money_ too!
How hard, that we the _dark_ designs should rue
Of those who’d fain make _light_ of all we do!
But such the fate which oft doth merit greet,
And which now drives us fairly off our beat!
Thus it appears from this our dismal plight,
That _some_ love _darkness_, rather than the _light_.
Henceforth let riot and disorder reign,
With all the ills that follow in their train;
Let TOMS and JERRYS unmolested brawl,
(No _Charlies_ have they now to _floor_ withal,)
And “rogues and vagabonds” infest the Town,
For cheaper ’tis to _save_ than _crack_ a _crown_!
To brighter scenes we now direct our view--
And first, fair Ladies, let us turn to you.
May each NEW YEAR new joys, new pleasures bring,
And Life for you be one delightful spring!
No summer’s sun annoy with fev’rish rays,
No winter chill the evening of your days!
To you, kind Sirs, we next our tribute pay:
May smiles and sunshine greet you on your way!
If married, calm and peaceful be your lives;
If single, may you forthwith get you wives!
Thus, whether Male or Female, Old or Young,
Or Wed or Single, be this burden sung:
Long may you live to hear, and we to call,
_A Happy Christmas and New Year to all!_
J. and R. Childs, Printers, Bungay.
* * * * *
Previous to Christmas 1825, a trio of foreign minstrels appeared in
London, ushering the season with melody from instruments seldom
performed on in the streets. These were Genoese with their guitars.
Musicians of this order are common in Naples and all over Italy; at the
carnival time they are fully employed, and at other periods are hired to
assist in those serenades whereof English ladies hear nothing, unless
they travel, save by the reports of those who publish accounts of their
adventures. The three now spoken of took up their abode in London, at
the King’s-head public-house, in Leather-lane, from whence ever and
anon, to wit, daily, they sallied forth to “discourse most excellent
music.” They are represented in the engraving below, from a sketch
hastily taken by a gentleman who was of a dinner party, by whom they
were called into the house of a street in the suburbs.
[Illustration: ~Italian Minstrels in London,~