Bedfordshire Ballad. - Iv Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCC DDEF GGC HHII JJKK CCCC CCLL MMNN CCJJ OOPP KKCC CCQQ RRLL RRSA TTUU CCRR CCRR KKAA RRRR VVKK CCKK KKJJ KKRR SARR KKWW CCRR RRKK C

HOME SWEET HOMEA
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I'm a Bedfordshire Chap and Bill Stumps is my nameB
And to tell it don't give me no manner of shameB
For a man as works honest and hard for his livin'C
When he tells you his name needn't feel no misgivin'C
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And works's what I live by At dawn o' the dayD
While some folks is snorin' I'm up and awayD
When I stops for my Bavor 'twould dew your heart goodE
To see how I relish the taste o' my foodF
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I'm fond o' my hoein' and ploughin' and drillG
And my hosses all knows me and works with a willG
I'm fond o' my 'chinin' and thackin' and drainin'C
For when work's to be done 'taint no use a complainin '-
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I whistles a tune if the mornins be darkH
When I goes home o' nights I sings sweet as a larkH
And you'll travel some distance afore you can findI
A chap more contented and happy in mindI
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And I'll tell ye the reason I've got a good wifeJ
The joy o' my heart and the pride o' my lifeJ
She ain't made o' gold nor ain't much of a beautyK
But she's allers a tryin' to dew of her dutyK
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And a tidier home there ain't none in the townC
Than mine and my Polly's I'll lay you a crownC
If it ain't quite a palace I'm sure 'tis as cleanC
And I'm King o' my cottage and Polly's the QueenC
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But things wasn't allers as lively as nowC
There's thirty good years since I fust went to ploughC
I wor then but a lad and a bad'un I fearL
Just a trifle tew partial to baccy and beerL
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So my maister he very soon gone me the sackM
And my faither he gone me the stick to my backM
But I cared for his bangins and blows not a rapN
I wor sich a queer onaccountable chapN
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To make a long story as short as I canC
When I'd done as a boy I became a young manC
And as happens to most men at that time o' lifeJ
I axed a young 'ooman if she'd be my wifeJ
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And Poll she consented O how my heart beatO
When she gone me her hand smilin' wonderful sweetO
I could hear my heart beatin' just like a Church bellP
Till I thought as my weskit 'ud bust pretty wellP
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But worn't I main happy and well nigh a crazyK
When I heard her her say Yes blushin' sweet as a daisyK
We was axed in the church no one dared to say nayC
So The Rector he spliced us one fine soommer dayC
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My Poll wor a steady young gal and a good 'unC
For washin' and scrubbin' and makin' a puddenC
Not one o them gossiping gals wot I hateQ
But a quoietish 'ooman wi' brains in her pateQ
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But soom how or other things didn't go rightR
There wasn't atwixt us no manner o' spiteR
But I stayed out o' Saturdays nights and I fearL
Spent more nor I'd ought on my baccy and beerL
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And Poll she look'd sadly but didn't say noughtR
She was one as 'ud allers say less than she thoughtR
But I know'd what she thought so a cloud kind o' comeS
And darkened the sun as once shone in our homeA
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But it come to a pass 'twas the fifth o' NovemberT
The day and the year I shall allers rememberT
Twas midnight and past when I come to my doorU
Scarce able to stan' well I won't say no moreU
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Next mornin' my head it wor well nigh a splittenC
And I stagger'd and stagger'd as weak as a kittenC
But the wust of it all wor the dressin' I gotR
From Polly oh worn't it main spicy and hotR
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What she said I won't tell you but you married menC
As knows wot it is to be pecked by a henC
Wot I means yer to guess pretty plainish 'ull findR
When I tells you she gone me a bit of her mindR
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And now I'm as sober as sober can beK
And me and my Poll as we sits down to teaK
Don't care very far of an evenin' to roamA
We're allers so jolly contented at homeA
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I wears no blue ribbon outside o' my coatR
For a pint o' good ale seems to freshen my throatR
But offer me more and I'm bound to refuse itR
For my Poll's got a tongue and her knows how to use itR
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So I takes just a pint when there's coppers to spareV
A pint wi' your dinner ain't no great affairV
But the time' o' the day as suits Polly and meK
Is when we sits down of an evenin' to teaK
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For the young 'uns sits round us all smilin' and cleanC
And Sally knits stockings wot's fit for the QueenC
Little Bill reads a book and Jemima she sewsK
And how happy our home is the parish all knowsK
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Now young men and maids if ye'll listen to meK
I'll give you some counsel all gratis and freeK
Young men if you want to be happy in lifeJ
Remember Bill Stumps and look out for a wifeJ
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Not one o' them husseys as gossips and chattersK
And is allers o' mindin' of other folk's mattersK
But one as 'ull work and be gentle and kindR
And as knows when to gi'e you a bit of her mindR
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Young maids who are willing young wives to becomeS
Remember the sweetest of places is homeA
But remember no husband 'ull find his home sweetR
If it ain't bright and cheerful and tidy and neatR
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If all's of a mullock and dirty and dustyK
When he pops home to dinner he'll turn rayther crustyK
But be tidy and careful in cookin' his grubW
And I'll bet what you like he wont go to the PubW
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So send off the young'uns to school afore nineC
And when they and faither come home for to dineC
Don't gi'e 'em cold taters and bacon half friedR
But a meal as 'ull cheer 'em and warm their insideR
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And don't let the children go roamin' o' nightR
But keep 'em at home for their faither's delightR
And I hope you may all be as happy and jollyK
In your Bedfordshire homes as Bill Stumps and his PollyK
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Bedfordshire for LuncheonC

Edward Woodley Bowling



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