Fifteen — Shillings a Week
Air:—“King of the Cannibal Islands”
A man and his wife in —— street,
With seven children young and sweet,
Had a jolly row last night complete,
About fifteen shillings a week, sir.
He gave his wife a clumsy clout,
Saying, how is all my money laid out,
Tell me quickly he did shout,
And then she soon did set about
Reckoning up without delay,
What she had laid out from day to day,
You shall know what’s done, the wife did say,
With fifteen shillings a week, sir.
Seven children to keep and find in clothes,
And to his wife he did propose,
To reckon how the money goes,
His fifteen shillings a week, sir.
Threepence-halfpenny a week for milk is spent,
One-and-ninepence a week for rent,
For the children a penny for peppermint,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir;
For tobacco eightpence every week,
A half-a-crown for butcher’s meat,
And to make your tea complete,
A three-farthing bloater for a treat,
A penny a week for cotton and thread,
Last Sunday, tenpence a small sheep’s head,
Ninepence-halfpenny a day for bread,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
Potatoes for dinner there must be found,
And there’s none for less than a penny a pound,
And I must have a sixpenny gown,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
A pennorth of starch, a farthing blue,
Twopence-halfpenny soap and potash too,
A ha’porth of onions to make a stew,
Three-halfpence a day small beer for you,
A quartern of butter, sixpennorth of fat,
And to wipe your shoes a twopenny mat,
One halfpenny a day to feed the cat,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
Ninepence a week for old dry peas,
Sixpence sugar, eightpence tea,
Pepper, salt, and mustard, farthings three,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
One and tenpence-halfpenny, understand,
Every week for firing out of hand,
Threepence-halfpenny candles, a farthing sand,
And threepence to bottom the frying-pan;
A twopenny broom to sweep the dirt,
Three-ha’porth of cloth to mend your shirt,
Now don’t you think you’re greatly hurt,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
Clothes for Tommy, Dick, Sal, Polly, and Jane,
And Jimmy and Betty must have the same;
You had a sixpenny jacket in Petticoat Lane,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
For shaving, a halfpenny twice a week,
A penny to cut your hair so neat,
Threepence for the socks upon your feet,
Last week you bought a tenpenny seat
Besides, old chap, I had most forgot,
You gave a penny for a kidney pie, all hot,
And threepence for an old brown chamberpot.
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
So now, old chap, you plainly see,
If you can reckon as well as me,
There is little waste in our family,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
There’s many a woman would think it no sin,
To spend the whole in snuff and gin!
When again to reckon you do begin,
Recollect there’s a farthing a week for pins,
To make things right my best I’ve tried,
That’s economy can’t be denied.
Dear wife, said he, I’m satisfied,
Out of fifteen shillings a week, sir.
So you women all the kingdom through,
To you this might appear quite new,
Just see if you the same can do,
With fifteen shillings a week, sir.
London: H. SUCH, Machine Printer, and Publisher, 177, Union street, Borough.—S. E.