For Dukes and Lords and Earls alike their riches I disdain;
I’d rather live a humble life, and my time I would employ
Increasing nature’s prospects, with my bonny labouring boy.””
“What on earth can ‘increasing nature’s prospects’ mean?” asked the long scholar.
“How can I tell?” said the Doctor, laughing; “I don’t pretend to construe; I only give you the words. But you must allow the moral to be good. It runs:—
“Success to every labouring boy that ploughs and hoes the ground,
For when his work is over, his home he will enjoy;
So happy is the girl that gets a bonny labouring boy.”
“Let’s see,” said the short scholar, “we’ve had specimens of patriotic, legendary, and sentimental ditties; but how about drinking songs? All tuneful nations, since the world began, have sung the praises of good liquor.”