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Plate 26: Old Squint-ey'd Nan

   
 
 


Publish'd as the Act Directs, June 1773

7 3/4"w x 5"h

               
   
 

From "The EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES in the Book of Heads entitled
HUMAN PASSIONS DELINEATED": PLATE 26

   
 

O

LD squint-ey'd Nan, who, by the paultry trade
Of selling wooden-spoons and ladles, made

A shift to live; — and get tobacco too,
And call'd sometimes where folks good ale did brew.

   One sultry day old Nanny supp'd so deep
That all she sold would scarce the balance keep;
Which griev'd her sore ; so she resolv'd to try
If wealthy farmer Jones would something buy.
She try'd indeed ; — but found all out of tune,
For corn and cheese had drop'd that afternoon.
Nay more than that ; he heard King George would stay
Corn's shipping off, — and things would lower each day:
They'd nothing buy — Old Nanny shook her head,
And with a sigh, thus to the farmer said :
Weel measter, weel : — boh one think e yer ear,
Spoons win be spoons, who lives another year.
Eigh, — win they so, owd deme? quo' Mr. Jones,
If that be it, I'll buy um aw for once.
I know the owd proverb which is true I wot,
" A penny sav'd, is just a penny got."

   Thus Nan was broke; and well it was no worse,
And budg'd away with money in her purse,
And laughing said — This seely lucky hit,
Shews gowd may harbour, where there's want o' wit.
Roytch fok I see, han naw awth' wit ith' ward ;
For int wur so, the poor wou'd quite be marr'd.
Let't leet heawt will, I've tow'd no lye, I'm sure,
Nan con tell true, altho' hoo's meety poor.

   
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