Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/633

Rh At the time of the European war, it sometimes happened that a wrestling match was interrupted in an unpleasant manner to some of the parties by the appearance on the scene of the press-gang. There is a favourite song relative to Dick Simmins, published in Mr. Collier's memoir of Hicks of Bodmin. I will give it here:— Come Vaither, Mother and Brothers all, And Zistur too, I pray, I'll tell ee a power o' the strangest thing's  As happen'd to me at say. I'll tell ee a parcel o' the strangest things About the winds and tide, How by compass us steer'd, and o' naught was afear'd,  An' a thousand things beside.

'Tes true I lived i' ole Plymouth town, My trade it were ostling, Dick Simmins and I went to Maker Green To turn at wrasteling. The prize o' buckskin breeches a pair, And ne'er the wuss for wear, Dick and I us tried two vails apiece, The blind man got his share.

Bevoor the play was o'er half way, 'Tes true upon my word, There came a set o' press-gang chaps Each armed wi' stick and sword. Dick Simmins swore a dreadful oath I didn't like to hear, But when King ca'd blind man a fule, That—darn't—I couldn't bear.

I went to t' chap wi' upcock'd hat, "No odds where you may be, But if thou thinks thyself a man  Come wi'out the ring wi' me." So he did stand, his sword in hand, I knocked it from his hand, Then three or vour gurt toads came up  And knocked me down on t' land.

Along came one of Plymouth town, Prentice to Uncle Cross, Wot run away 'bout a bastard child, A terrible lad he wos.