386

The Music to be had of M. Preston, N. 97, Strand.

THE GHOSTS; or, Mrs. DUFFY and Mrs. CRUCKSHANKS.

Written by T. DIBDIN, Esq.—Sung by Mr. FAWCETT, at Covent-Garden Theatre.

IN wonderful times like these here,
Ven the French are agog for invasion,
And every true-bred volunteer
Vil turn out if so be there's occasion;
Ven Bony himfelf can affright,
And our corps are all day at their poſſes,
It's hard to be fear'd in the night,
And all by a parcel of ghoſtes.—Sing fal la,&c.

You've heard how a few weeks ago,
Von evening as pitch-black and dark,
A woman all viter than flow,
Difappear'd to a man in the Park.
He knew her for one that vas dead,
And with fear, though his ſenſes might fail,
Yet her being without ne'er a head,
Is a proof he vas right in his tail,

Some faid how this thing vat appear'd,
Vas for fartain the ghoul of his vife,
Who of spirits vas never afear'd,
Nor afham'd in the courſe of her life;
On her noſe 'twas fo easy to trace,
How oft the dear creature got nuffy,
That nought but the vant of a face,
From her hufband difguis'd Mrs. Duffy.

Mr. Duffy vonce liv'd in the Tower,
Vere he kick'd up a number of pranks,
And at that time did all in his power
To beguile Mrs. Kitty Cruckhanks.
Madam Duffy this matter well knew,
But ere the for the rival made vay,
Mrs. Cruckhanks moſt likely died too,
Because he vas buried von day.

As he knew he'd been vicked to both,
And on guard muſt be in a few nights,
To go he vas devilish loath,
For fear he ſhould fee both their fcharites.
At three, Mrs. Duffy, 'tis faid,
Came again, without pate, like a noddy,
And at four Mrs. Cruckhanks's head
Came valking vith never a body.

Mrs. Duffy, kind foul, for her part,
Not a vord to her hufbund had flung,
For the could'nt find in her heart
To talk without never a tongue.
Mrs. Cruckhanks, obſerving her cropt,
Regardless of any beholders,
Gave a ſkip, ſep, and a jump, and so popt
Her own head on Mrs. D's shoulders.

Thus two making head againſt one,
He thought it high time to be valking.
And bolder than he might have run,
Ven von woman for two vas a talking.
With fear he vas ready to drop,
Vat they talk'd of he never yet told,
But he found even death cou'd'nt flop
A woman determin'd to ſcold.

Published 25th March, 1805.

BY LAURIE AND WHITTLE,
Fleet Street, London.