Stories and Poems — Hannah More

THE GIN-SHOPOR, A PEEP INTO A PRISONBy Hannah More Look through the land from north to south,And look from east to west,And see what is to EnglishmenOf life the deadliest pest. It is not want, though that is bad;Nor war, though that is worse;But Britons brave endure, alas!A self-inflicted curse. Go where you will, throughout the realmYou’ll find the reigning sin,In cities, villages, and towns,—The monster’s name is Gin. The prince of darkness never sentTo man a deadlier foe;“My name is Legion,” it may say,The source of many a wo. Nor does the fiend alone depriveThe laborer of his wealth;That...

PATIENT JOEOR, THE NEWCASTLE COLLIERBy Hannah More Have you heard of a collier of honest renown,Who dwelt on the borders of Newcastle town?His name it was Joseph—you better may knowIf I tell you he always was called Patient Joe. Whatever betided, he thought it was right,And Providence still he kept ever in sight;To those who love God, let things turn as they would,He was certain that all worked together for good. He praised his Creator whatever befell;How thankful was Joseph when matters went well!How sincere were his carols of praise for good health,And how grateful for any increase in his...

THE RIOTOR, HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NO BREAD IN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN JACK ANVIL AND TOM HOD, TO THE TUNE OF—“A COBBLER THERE WAS”Written in Ninety-five, a Year of Scarcity and AlarmBy Hannah More TOM“Come, neighbors, no longer be patient and quiet,Come, let us go kick up a bit of a riot;I’m hungry, my lads, but I’ve little to eat,So we’ll pull down the mills, and we’ll seize all the meat:I’ll give you good sport, boys, as ever you saw;So a fig for the justice, a fig for the law.Derry down.” Then his pitchfork Tom seized.—“Hold a moment,”...

THE CARPENTEROR, THE DANGER OF EVIL COMPANYBy Hannah More There was a young west country man,A carpenter by trade,A skilful wheelwright too was he,And few such wagons made. No man a tighter barn could build,Throughout his native town;Through many a village round was heThe best of workmen known. His father left him what he had,—In sooth it was enough,—His shining pewter, pots of brass,And all his household stuff. A little cottage too he had,For ease and comfort planned;And, that he might not lack for aught,An acre of good land. A pleasant orchard too there wasBefore his cottage door:Of cider and...

ROBERT AND RICHARDOR, THE GHOST OF POOR MOLLY WHO WAS DROWNED IN RICHARD’S MILL-PONDTUNE—“COLLINS’S MULBERRY-TREE”By Hannah More Quoth Richard to Bob, “Let things go as they will,Of pleasure and fun I will still have my fill;In frolic and mirth I see nothing amiss,And, though I get tipsy, what harm is in this? “For e’en Solomon says,—and I vow he says truth,—‘Rejoice, O young man, in the days of thy youth.’”“I’m glad,” answered Bob, “you’re of Solomon’s creed;But I beg, if you quote him, you’ll please to proceed; “For ‘God (as the wise man continues to sing)Thy soul into judgment for...