Seldome cleanely OR,
A merry new Ditty, wherein you may see,
The tricke of a Huswife, in every degree:
Then lend your attention while I doe unfold,
As pleasant a story as you have heard told,
To the tune of, Vpon a Summers time.
DRaw néere you Countrey Girles,
and
[...]ssen unto me,
Ile tell you here a new conceit
concerning Huswifery,
concerning Huswifery,
Thrée Aunts I had of late,
good Huswifes all were they:
But cruell death hath taken
the best of them away,
O the best of them away.
O this was one of my Aunts,
the best of all the three:
And surely though I say it my selfe
A cleanly woman was she,
A cleanly woman was she.
My Vncle carelesse was,
in wasting of his store:
Which made my Aunt to have a care
To looke about the more,
To looke, &c.
[...]hen Winter time drew on,
nee
[...]e to
[...]lthollon day:
My Aunt did cash her wits about
To save her Straw and Hay,
To save, &c.
And like a provident woman,
As plainely did apeare:
She starv'd her Bullockes to save her Hay,
Vntill another yeare,
O this was one of my Aunts,
the best of all the three,
And surely though I say't my selfe
a provident woman was shee.
But as shée went to fée
her cattell in the fields:
When shee comes home two pound of durt,
Hang d
[...]ngling at her heeles,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
And there shée let it hang
from Candlemas till May:
And then shée tooke a hatchet in hand,
And chopt it cleane away,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
In making of a chéese
my Aunt shewed her cunning:
Such perfit skill shée had at will,
Shée never used running,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
For having strained her milke.
in turning once about,
Shée had the best curd that ever you saw,
By the sent of the strayning clout,
O this was one of my Aunts,
the, &c.
The second part, To the same tune.
SHée was the choysest Nurse,
that lived in all the West:
Her face was white as the charcoale flower
So was her neck and brest,
O this was one of my Aunts,
the best of all the three
And surely though I say't my selfe,
a cleanly good Nurse was she.
The garments which she did weare,
did shine like the br
[...]zen Crock▪
And where shée went she bore such a sent,
That
[...]he flyes b
[...]ew in her frock,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
My Aunt so cu
[...]ious was,
as I to you may tell▪
Shee u
[...]ed to make
[...]at puddings,
In markets for to sell
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
The smallest candles end,
my Aunt would never loose:
It would helpe to make her puddings fat,
With the droppings of her nose,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
Another trick she had,
as I shall
[...]ow declare,
Shée never swept the house,
About some times a yeare,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
And when shée swept the Hall,
the Parlor or the Spence:
The dust was worth to her at least,
A shilling or 14. pence
O this was one of my Aunts,
the, &c.
One day my Aunt was set
by the fier si
[...]e a spi
[...]ning:
As she knew well what was to doe,
To wollen or to linnen,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
A change came in her minde,
her worke being in great hast:
She burn'd her Tow her Whéele and all,
Because she would make no wast,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
My Aunt so patient was,
of this I dare be bold
That with her neighbours shée
Was never knowne to scold,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
Her lips with lothsome words,
shee seldome would defile:
But sometimes she would whisper so loud,
You might heare her halfe a mile,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
Yet one condition more,
unto you I will thow:
Shee washt her dishes once a moneth,
And set them on a row,
O this was one of my Aunts, &c.
If other wise she had,
but of a dishclout faile,
She would set them to the Dog to lick.
and wipe
[...] with his tayle.
O this was one of my Aunts, &c,
But to conclude in hast,
I hold it not amisse:
I love a cleanly huswife well,
As may appeare by this,
O this was one of my Aunts,
the best of all the three
And surely though I say't my selfe,
a cleanely woman was she.
L. P.
FINIS.