The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #110777   Message #2329391
Posted By: Jim Dixon
30-Apr-08 - 12:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Artichokes & Cauliflowers
Subject: Lyr Add: OLD WOMAN OF RUMFORD
From The Bodleian Library Ballads Catalogue, Harding B 16(187a):

OLD WOMAN OF RUMFORD
J. Catnach, Printer, 2, & 3, Monmouth-court, 7 Dials.

[1] There was an old woman of Rumford,
And she was a gay old lass,
And many an honest penny got,
By selling asparagrass.
As through the streets she goes,
With her barrow as she'd pass,
Soliciting her customers
To buy her precious Ar—

(Chorus) tichokes an Colliflowers,
Come buy, come buy of me,
They are the finest of the sort,
That ever you did see.

[2] This old woman had a daughter,
And the girl, her name was Ciss,
And she went into the garden
Every morning for to pick
Some parsley, time, and sage,
Likewise som asparagrass,
To decorate her barrow,
When she cried come buy my Ar—
tichokes, &c.

[3] This old woman had a lodger too,
Who used to bed and board,
She resolved one morn to treat him with
A good brown roasted tur—key.
She boiled some colliflowers,
Likewise some asparagrass,
For she had make a lucky hit,
And sole her precious Ar—tichokes.

[4] This put the lodger in a rage,
Said he my cunning old lass,
If you give me further impertinence,
I'll kick your precious Ar—
Tichokes and tender flowers,
From your barrow as you pass,
Oh, no, you must not touch me,
Nor my daughter's precious ar—tichokes.

[5] But if you'll wed my daughter Ciss,
I swear now by the lass,
Five hundred pounds I will pay down
Which I've got by my grass.
When she may be a lady gay,
Visit opera, ball or farce,
And never mind what people say,
About her old mother's Ar—tichokes.

[6] This was not to be resisted,
So he pocketed the cash,
And not being close fisted,
Resolved to cut a dash.
He had parties every day to dine,
Made each guess fill up his glass,
And the first toast he gave in a bumper,
Here's success to the old woman's Ar—
tichokes, &c.