Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By George FauvelGouraud

1712 The Little Nipper an’ ’is Ma

“YER know me little nipper,”

Said ’Energy ’Awkins, M. P.

“Well, ’e ’s a little champion,

An’ tikes on arfter me.

Larst Sunday me an’ the missus

Went out fer a little walk—

I should say the nipper took us,

Yer should o’ ’eard ’im tork!

“We went along through Tyburn,

An’ then by ’Endon way,

W’ere I ust ter do me courtin’

In those sweet nights o’ May.

We ’d been walkin’ out an ’our,

W’en Sal she sez ter me,

‘’Ere, ’Arry, is yer gime, dear,

Fer shrimps an’ a cup o’ tea.’

“‘Garn,’ sez I ter Sally,

‘I ’m in fer ’arf an ’arf.’

Lor lumme, yer should just o’ ’eard

My little Sally larf!

‘O’ course,’ she sez, ‘I likes me nip

O’ gin an’ glarss o’ beer,

But did not like ter say it out

Before the nipper ’ere.’

“The nipper ’e war n’t lookin’

As we neared the Brokers’ Arms;

An’ in we ’ops ter get a wet,

Not dreamin’ any ’arm.

But the nipper ’e were cagy,

An’ followed in the rear,

An’ ’ears me give me order:

‘’Ere, miss, two pots o’ beer.’

“An’ w’en I gives me order,

I turns ter speak ter Sal,

Ter arsk if she remembered

The day she was me gal.

I felt some one a-tuggin’

An’ pullin’ at me back;

I looks around surprised-like,

An’ sees that rascal Jack.

“Sez I, ‘See ’ere, me nipper,

I wont ’ave yer ’angin’ ’ere.’

Sez ’e, ‘D’ yer think I ’m goin’?

Not me. No bally fear.

Now, then, wot ’ave yer ordered?

Sez I, ‘Two ’arf an’ ’arf.’

Sez ’e, ‘Ain’t mother in it?’

An’ yer should o’ ’eard ’im larf.”