The best and choicest bed of all,
Was occupied with Johnny;
Because the Dame did favour him,
He did collect her money.
And in a little bunk he lived,
Seal’d up with oak, and tarr’d;
He would not let a single one,
Come near within a yard.
A Jack of all trades, too, was John,
And aught he’d do for brass;
And what he ever took in hand,
No one could him surpass.
When tired of being shut up it bunk,
Sometimes he went across,
To spend an hour with Master Louis,
And they the wine would toss.
So many a happy day they spent,
These lads, with one another;
While every lodger in the house,
Thought John was Louis’ brother.
The Dame allowed John something nice,
To get well in her rent,
Which every now and then it bank,
He put it on per cent.
And working very hard himself
Amongst his tar and pitch;
He soon accumulated wealth,
That made him very rich.
The next to Louis’ bed was Will,
The biggest Monitor;
And though he did pretend a saint,
He was as big a cur.
He loved to make them all believe
He was opposed to strife,
And said he never caused a row,
No, never in his life.
He was so fond of singing psalms,
And read his testament;
So everybody was deceived
When he was on mischief bent.