"The Drunkard`s Looking Glass" London, circa 1846

"What will the drunkard do for ale?,
Shall I unfold my dreadful tale.
Yes, I`ll unfold it if I can,
To benefit a drunken man.

What will a drunkard do for ale?
It will make a sober man turn pale.
Sell his hat and pawn his coat,
To satisfy his greedy throat.
Ch.:-
      There for the grace of God go we,
      Saved from shame and misery.
      There for the love of ale go you.
      Say drunkard, is my statement true?

What will he do to gain his end.
He will deceive his dearest friend.
His crafty plans we will devise,
And tell the most atrocious lies.

What will a drunkard do for ale?
Dark and dismal grows my tale.
Sell his bedstead and his bed.
Nor leave a place to lay his head.
Ch.:-

Sell his blankets and his sheets.
Lie in barns or walk the streets.
His thirsty soul will cry for more
He`s starved and miserably poor.

He`ll beg for half-pence when he can.
And say he is a dying man.
But if three half-pence he has got,
He`ll go and find another sot.
Ch.:-

As mean and shabby as himself.
A dirty, ragged, drunken elf.
In some alehouse corner seated,
Waiting, longing to be treated.

They freely enter into chat,
If they can but catch a flat.
With every one they will be friends,
If they can but gain their ends.
Ch.:-

Then with his bosom full, of strife,
Each man goes home to beat his wife.
The children beat and sent to bed,
Because the wretches have no bread.

No meat, no butter have they got.
Such is the dwelling of a sot.
The wife in tears and ragged too,
Say, drunkard is my statement true?
Ch.:-