This comes from Puck of Pook's Hill, published in 1906, but talking about the past. The 'Gentlemen' are the smugglers, and a young girl is being told not to be nosy, not to talk to the soldiers about the smugglers, and to 'watch the wall' when they pass by, so she can honestly say that she saw nothing.
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If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet, Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street, Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie. Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by! Five-and-twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark - Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk; Laces for a lady; letters for a spy, And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by! Running round the woodlump if you chance to find Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine; Don't you shout to come and look, nor take 'em for your play; Put the brishwood back again, - and they'll be gone next day! If you see the stable-door setting open wide; If you see a tired horse lying down inside; If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore; If the lining's wet and warm - don't you ask no more! If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue and red, You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said. If they call you 'pretty maid,' and chuck you 'neath the chin, Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one's been! Knocks and footsteps round the house - whistles after dark - You've no call for running out till the house-dogs bark. Trusty's here, and Pincher's here, and see how dumb they lie - They don't fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by! If you do as you've been told, 'likely there's a chance, You'll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France, With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood - A present from the Gentlemen, along o' being good! Five-and-twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark - Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk. Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie - Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by! |
'Laces for a lady' (not usually plural!) are one of the items being smuggled. Lace was taxed heavily, possibly to protect British lacemakers, or possibly just because being expensive, it was a good earner of revenue. The doll's 'cap of Valenciennes' would be made of lace.
By the way, 'woodlump' and 'brishwood' are in the original, not my mistakes!
Valenciennes lace
© Jo Edkins 2017 - return to lace index