|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 12
_Sinks!_ Yes, when wot yer lives in _is_ a sink, or somethink wus;
With a drunkard for a mother, and some neighbour for a nuss;
With the gutter for yer playground, and a 'ome from which yer
shrink,
Can you wonder that poor Slum-birds is give o'er to Dirt and Drink.
Ah! them two D's goes together. Just you plant some orty Queen
In a rookery, in her kidhood, and then tell her to keep _clean_,
Wash 'er face, and mend 'er garments,--wich they're mostly
sewed-up rags,--
In six months she'd be a scare-crow, 'ands like sut, and 'air all
jags.
Wot yer washups don't quite tumble to's the fack as like breeds
like.
If you would himprove Slum-dwellers, at the Slum you fust must
strike.
Give us small dark 'oles to dwell in, and you must be jolly green
If you think folks bred in dirt like, are a-going to keep 'em clean.
When the sewer-rats take to sweetening and lime-washing _their_
foul 'oles,
And bright light and disinfectants are the fads of skunks and moles,
Then poor souls in cellar-dwellings and in jerry-builders' dens,
Will be smart as young canaries and as clean as clucking hens.
NOCKY SPRIGGINGS guyed me proper, in his chuckly sorter style,
With his thumb 'ooked orful hartful, and his chickaleary smile.
"JIM," sez he, "wot price _your_ jabber? Do yer think the blooming
blokes
Cares a cuss for me and you, JIM, any more than for our mokes?
"Shut yer face, you pattering josser! Dirt and Drink is good for
Rents!
If the Poor _wos_ clean and sober, where 'ud be their
cent-per-cents?
If it's Public 'Ouse 'gainst Wash 'Ouse, if it's Slumland _wersus_
Swipes,
_I_ am on for booze and backy 'stead o' drains and water-pipes.
"You may be _too_ jolly clean, JIM, and a precious sight _too_
light,
Were's the good to scrub yer skin orf! And if when a cove gits
tight,
Or would give his donah wot-for on the Q.T. _wot_ a lark
If there weren't no 'andy alleys, nor no corners snug and _dark_.
"If the Public--_and_ the Slops--wos always fly to wot _we_ done,
'Long o' widened streets and gas-light, wy we'd 'ave no blooming
fun.
Lagged for larrupping yer missus, nailed for boozing till yer nod?
Wy, you jabbering young Juggins, _we should always be in quod!_"
'Ard nut is NOCKY SPRIGGINGS--of the sort as make the slums,
'Cos there ain't much chance for cleanness, or for comfort, when
_he_ comes.
He's as 'appy in the dirt, gents, as a blowfly or a 'og;
Or poor Paddy in his tater-patch alongside of a bog;
He'd chop up 'is doors and winders for a fire to 'ot his lush,
Don't care a 'ang for decency, and never raised a blush.
But, arter my hexperience--and I've 'ad some down our court--
I believe that--fair at bottom--it's the Slum as makes _his_ sort.
Anyways I'm pooty certain, if we'd got more light and space,
And were not jammed up together in a filthy, ill-drained place;
If the sunlight could but see us, and the public _and_ the cops,
There would be less booze and bashing, fewer drabs and
drinking-shops.
Aye, and fewer NOCKY SPRIGGINGSES! I don't go for to say
As it's _all_ along o' Landlords, who'd rent 'ell, if 'twould but
pay;
But I've noticed you find fewest mice where there are lots of cats,
And where there ain't no rat-holes, well--yer won't spot many rats!
* * * * *
THE LAST DISCOVERY.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|