Evening star., 1929-06-26
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
JOHN GILPIN'S RIDE.
BY WILLIAM COWPER,

dering 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: $50 am II"
But yet his horse was not whit in
clined to tarry there. For why? His
owner had house full 10 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.
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
neighbor in such trim, laid down his
pipe. flew to the gate, and thus ac-
costed him:
what newsl What newsi Your tid-
ings tell-tall 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 timely joke. so thus unto the
calender in merry guise he spoke: "I
came because your horse would come.
and II well forbode 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
single word, but to the house went in.
Whence straight he came with hat and
wig. wig that flowed behind. 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. But let
me scrape the dirt away that hangs
upon your faee-and stop and eat. for
well you may be in hungry case"
Said John: 1T Is my wedding day,
and all the world would stare IL wife
should dine at Edmonton. and should
dine at Warei''
SO. turning to hts horse. he said: "I.
am in haste to dine. Twas for your
pleasure you came here, you shall go
back for mine"
All. luckless speech and bootless boastl
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 lion roar and
galloped of with all his might. as he
had done before.
Away went Gilpin. and away went
Gilpin's hat and wigi He left them
sooner than at first-for why?-they
were too bigl
Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw
her husband posting down into the
country far away, she pulled out half
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"
The youth did ride and soon did meet
John coming back again. Whom In q
trice he tried to stop by catching at his
rein. But not performing what he
meant, and glad he would have done.
the frightened horse he frighted more
and made him faster run. Away went
Gilpin, and away went post-boy at his
heelsl The postboy's horse right glad
to miss the numbering of the wheels.
Six gentlemen upon the road. thus see
ing Gilpin fly. with post-boy scamper-
ing 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.
And now the turnpike gates again
few open In short space, the tollman
thinking as before that Gilpin rode a
race. And so he did--and won it tool
for he got first to town, nor stopped till
where he had got I'D 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!