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Title: R. Caldecott's Picture Book (No. 1)

Illustrator: Randolph Caldecott

Release date: July 8, 2011 [eBook #36665]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by David Edwards, Matthew Wheaton and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK R. CALDECOTT'S PICTURE BOOK (NO. 1) ***

i001

R. Caldecott's Picture Book
John Gilpin
The House that Jack built.
The Mad Dog
The Babes in the Wood

Frederick Warne & Co Ltd.

R. CALDECOTT'S
PICTURE BOOK
(No. 1)

CONTAINING

THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG

THE BABES IN THE WOOD


i002

LONDON
FREDERICK WARNE AND CO., Ltd.
AND NEW YORK

Printed in Great Britain

 

i003

 

THE DIVERTING HISTORY
OF
JOHN GILPIN:

Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again.

i004

WRITTEN BY Wm. COWPER
WITH DRAWINGS BY R. CALDECOTT

 

JOHN GILPIN was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he,
Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
"Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.
"To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair
Unto the 'Bell' at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.
"My sister, and my sister's child,
Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaise; so you must ride
On horseback after we."

 

i005

The Linendraper bold

He soon replied, "I do admire
Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.
"I am a linendraper bold,
As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender
Will lend his horse to go."
Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well said;
And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnished with our own,
Which is both bright and clear."
John Gilpin kissed his loving wife.
O'erjoyed was he to find,
That though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

 

i006

 

i007

 

The morning came, the chaise was brought,
But yet was not allowed
To drive up to the door, lest all
Should say that she was proud.
So three doors off the chaise was stayed,
Where they did all get in;
Six precious souls, and all agog
To dash through thick and thin.
Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,
Were never folks so glad!
The stones did rattle underneath,
As if Cheapside were mad.
John Gilpin at his horse's side
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride,
But soon came down again;
For saddletree scarce reached had he,
His journey to begin,
When, turning round his head, he saw
Three customers come in.
So down he came; for loss of time,
Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

 

i008

The 3 customers

 

i009

 

'Twas long before the customers
Were suited to their mind,
When Betty screaming came downstairs,
"The wine is left behind!"
"Good lack!" quoth he, "yet bring it me,
My leathern belt likewise,
In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercise."
Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!)
Had two stone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she loved,
And keep it safe and sound.
Each bottle had a curling ear,
Through which the belt he drew,
And hung a bottle on each side,
To make his balance true.
Then over all, that he might be
Equipped from top to toe,
His long red cloak, well brushed and neat,
He manfully did throw.
Now see him mounted once again
Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones,
With caution and good heed.

 

i010

 

But finding soon a smoother road
Beneath his well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,
Which galled him in his seat.

 

i011

 

"So, fair and softly!" John he cried,
But John he cried in vain;
That trot became a gallop soon,
In spite of curb and rein.
So stooping down, as needs he must
Who cannot sit upright,
He grasped the mane with both his hands,
And eke with all his might.
His horse, who never in that sort
Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back had got,
Did wonder more and more.
Away went Gilpin, neck or nought;
Away went hat and wig;
He little dreamt, when he set out,
Of running such a rig.
The wind did blow, the cloak did fly
Like streamer long and gay,
Till, loop and button failing both,
At last it flew away.

 

i012

 

Then might all people well discern
The bottles he had slung;
A bottle swinging at each side,
As hath been said or sung.
The dogs did bark, the children screamed,
Up flew the windows all;
And every soul cried out, "Well done!"
As loud as he could bawl.
Away went Gilpin—who but he?
His fame soon spread around;
"He carries weight! he rides a race
'Tis for a thousand pound!"
And still as fast as he drew near,
'Twas wonderful to view
How in a trice the turnpike-men
Their gates wide open threw.

 

i013-1014

 

i015

 

And now, as he went bowing down
His reeking head full low,
The bottles twain behind his back
Were shattered at a blow.
Down ran the wine into the road,
Most piteous to be seen,
Which made the horse's flanks to smoke,
As they had basted been.

 

i016

 

But still he seemed to carry weight,
With leathern girdle braced;
For all might see the bottle-necks
Still dangling at his waist.

 

i017

 

Thus all through merry Islington
These gambols he did play,
Until he came unto the Wash
Of Edmonton so gay;

And there he threw the wash about
On both sides of the way,
Just like unto a trundling mop,
Or a wild goose at play.

 

i018

 

At Edmonton his loving wife
From the balcony spied
Her tender husband, wondering much
To see how he did ride.
"Stop, stop, John Gilpin!—Here's the house!"
They all at once did cry;
"The dinner waits, and we are tired;"
Said Gilpin—"So am I!"

 

i019

 

But yet his horse was not a whit
Inclined to tarry there;
For why?—his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.
So like an arrow swift he flew,
Shot by an archer strong;
So did he fly—which brings me to
The middle of my song.

 

i020

 

Away went Gilpin, out of breath,
And sore against his will,
Till at his friend the calender's
His horse at last stood still.
The calender, amazed to see
His neighbour in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,
And thus accosted him:

 

i021

 

"What news? what news? your tidings tell;
Tell me you must and shall—
Say why bareheaded you are come,
Or why you come at all?"
Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit,
And loved a timely joke;
And thus unto the calender
In merry guise he spoke:
"I came because your horse would come:
And, if I well forebode,
My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road."
The calender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin,
Returned him not a single word,
But to the house went in;

 

i022

 

Whence straight he came with hat and wig,
A wig that flowed behind,
A hat not much the worse for wear,
Each comely in its kind.
He held them up, and in his turn
Thus showed his ready wit:
"My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit."

 

i023

 

"But let me scrape the dirt away,
That hangs upon your face;
And stop and eat, for well you may
Be in a hungry case."
Said John, "It is my wedding-day,
And all the world would stare
If wife should dine at Edmonton,
And I should dine at Ware."
So turning to his horse, he said
"I am in haste to dine;
'Twas for your pleasure you came here,
You shall go back for mine."
Ah! luckless speech, and bootless boast!
For which he paid full dear;
For while he spake, a braying ass
Did sing most loud and clear;
Whereat his horse did snort, as he
Had heard a lion roar,
And galloped off with all his might,
As he had done before.

 

i024

 

Away went Gilpin, and away
Went Gilpin's hat and wig;
He lost them sooner than at first,
For why?—they were too big.

 

i025

 

Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw
Her husband posting down
Into the country far away,
She pulled out half-a-crown;
And thus unto the youth she said
That drove them to the "Bell,"
"This shall be yours when you bring back
My husband safe and well."

 

i026

 

The youth did ride, and soon did meet
John coming back amain;
Whom in a trice he tried to stop,
By catching at his rein.
But not performing what he meant,
And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him faster run.
Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels,
The postboy's horse right glad to miss
The lumbering of the wheels.

 

i027

 

Six gentlemen upon the road,
Thus seeing Gilpin fly,
With postboy scampering in the rear,
They raised the hue and cry.
"Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman!"
Not one of them was mute;
And all and each that passed that way
Did join in the pursuit.

 

i028

 

i029-i030

 

i031

 

And now the turnpike-gates again
Flew open in short space;
The toll-man thinking, as before,
That Gilpin rode a race.
And so he did, and won it too,
For he got first to town;
Nor stopped till where he had got up,
He did again get down.

 

Now let us sing, Long live the King.
And Gilpin, long live he;
And when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to see.

 

i032

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

 

i033

 

This is the House that Jack built.

 

i034

 


i035 i036


 

i037

 

i038r

 

This is the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.


i038l

 

This is the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.


 


i040 i039

 

i041

 

This is the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

 


i042 i043

 

i044

 

i045

 

i046-top i046-bottom

 

This is the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.


 

i047

 

i048

 

i049-a

This is the Cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

i049-b

 


i050

 

i051

 

i052

 

i053-a

 

This is the Maiden all forlorn,
That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

 

i053-b

 

This is the Man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the Maiden all forlorn,
That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

 


i054

 


i055 i056

 

This is the Priest, all shaven and shorn,
That married the Man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the Maiden all forlorn,
i057-a That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Cock that crowed in the morn;
That waked the Priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the Man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the Maiden all forlorn,
That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn,
i057-b That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

 


i058

 


i059 i060

 

This is the Farmer who sowed the corn,
That fed the Cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the Priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the Man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the Maiden all forlorn,
That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

 

i061

 

i062


AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG

 

i063

 

i064

 

An ELEGY on the DEATH of a MAD DOG.
WRITTEN By Dr GOLDSMITH
PICTURED By R. Caldecott
SUNG By Master Bill Primrose
IN MEMORY OF TOBY

 

i065

 

GOOD people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,

 

i066

 

It cannot hold you long.

 

i067

 

i068

 

In Islington there lived a man,
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran,

 

i069

 

Whene'er he went

 

i070

 

to pray.

 

i071

 

i072

 

A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad,

 

i073

 

When he put on

 

i074

 

his clothes.

 

i075

 

i076-a

 

And in that town a dog was found:
As many dogs there be—

 

i076-b

 

Both mongrel, puppy, whelp and hound,

 

i076-c

 

And curs of low degree.

 

i077

 

This dog and man at first were friends;

 

i078

 

But, when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,

 

i079

 

Went mad, and bit the man.

 

i080

 

i081

 

Around from all

 

i082

 

the neighbouring streets

 

i083

 

The wondering neighbours ran;

 

i084

 

i085

 

And swore the dog had lost his wits,

 

i086

 

To bite so good a man.

 

i087

 

The wound it seem'd both sore and sad To every christian eye;

 

i088

 

i089

 

And while they swore the dog was mad,

 

i090

 

They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light,
That show'd the rogues they lied—

 

i091-a

 

The man recover'd of the bite;

 

i091

 

The dog it was that died.

 

i092

THE BABES IN THE WOOD

 

i093

SORE SICKE THEY WERE AND LIKE TO DYE

 

i094

 

Now ponder well, you parents deare,
These wordes which I shall write;
A doleful story you shall heare,
In time brought forth to light.

A gentleman of good account
In Norfolke dwelt of late,
Who did in honour far surmount
Most men of his estate.

Sore sicke he was, and like to dye,
No helpe his life could save;
His wife by him as sicke did lye,
And both possest one grave.

 

i095

 

No love between these two was lost,
Each was to other kinde;
In love they liv'd, in love they dyed,
And left two babes behinde:

The one a fine and pretty boy,
Not passing three yeares olde;
The other a girl more young than he
And fram'd in beautye's molde.

The father left his little son,
As plainlye doth appeare,
When he to perfect age should come
Three hundred poundes a yeare.

And to his little daughter Jane
Five hundred poundes in gold,
To be paid downe on marriage-day,
Which might not be controll'd:

 

i096

 

But if the children chanced to dye,
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possesse their wealth;
For so the wille did run.

 

i097

Now, Brother, said the dying man, Look to my children deare.

"Now, brother," said the dying man,
"Look to my children deare;
Be good unto my boy and girl,
No friendes else have they here:

"To God and you I do commend
My children deare this daye;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to staye.

"You must be father and mother both,
And uncle all in one;
God knowes what will become of them,
When I am dead and gone."

 

i098

 

With that bespake their mother deare: "O brother kinde," quoth shee,
"You are the man must bring our babes
To wealth or miserie:

 

i099

 

i100

 

"And if you keep them carefully,
Then God will you reward;
But if you otherwise should deal,
God will your deedes regard."

 

i101

With lippes as cold as any stone, they kist the children small

With lippes as cold as any stone,
They kist the children small:
"God bless you both, my children deare:"
With that the teares did fall.

 

i102

 

i103

 

These speeches then their brother spake
To this sicke couple there:
"The keeping of your little ones,
Sweet sister, do not feare:

"God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children deare,
When you are layd in grave."

 

i104

 

i105

Their Parents being Dead & Gone, The Children home he takes.

The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,
And bringes them straite unto his house,
Where much of them he makes.

 

i106

 

i107

 

He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a daye,
But, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both awaye.

He bargain'd with two ruffians strong,
Which were of furious mood,
That they should take the children young,
And slaye them in a wood.

 

i108

 

He told his wife an artful tale,
He would the children send
To be brought up in faire London,
With one that was his friend.

 

i109

 

Away then went those pretty babes,
Rejoycing at that tide,
Rejoycing with a merry minde,
They should on cock-horse ride.

 

i110

Away then went the Pretty Babes Rejoycing at that tide.

 

i111

 

They prate and prattle pleasantly
As they rode on the waye,
To those that should their butchers be,
And work their lives' decaye:

So that the pretty speeche they had,
Made murderers' heart relent:
And they that undertooke the deed,
Full sore did now repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch, that hired him,
Had paid him very large.

 

i112

 

The other would not agree thereto,
So here they fell to strife;
With one another they did fight,
About the children's life:

 

i113

 

And he that was of mildest mood,
Did slaye the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood,
Where babes did quake for feare!

 

i114

And he that was of mildest mood did slaye the other there

 

i115

 

He took the children by the hand,
While teares stood in their eye,
And bade them come and go with him,
And look they did not crye:

And two long miles he ledd them on,
While they for food complaine:
"Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring ye bread,
When I come back againe."

 

i116

 

These prettye babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and downe;

 

i117

 

But never more they sawe the man Approaching from the town.

 

i118

 

i119

 

Their prettye lippes with blackberries Were all besmear'd and dyed;
And when they sawe the darksome night,
They sat them downe and cryed.

 

i120

 

Thus wandered these two prettye babes,
Till death did end their grief;
In one another's armes they dyed,
As babes wanting relief.

No burial these prettye babes
Of any man receives,

 

i121

 

Till Robin-redbreast painfully
Did cover them with leaves.

 

i122

In one another's arms they dyed.