Note 93 — SELDOME CLEANELY90

My Uncle carelesse was in wasting of his store, Which made my Aunt to have a care to looke about the more, to looke &c— When Winter time drew on neere to All hollow day: My Aunt did cast 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, untill another yeare. O this was one of my Aunts, the best of all the three And surely, though I say't myselfe a provident woman was shee. But as she went to see her cattell in the fields: When she comes home, two pound of durt hang dragling at her heeles. O this &c And there she let it hang from Candlemas to May, And then shee tooke a hatchet in hand, and chopt it cleane away. O this &c In making of a cheese my Aunt shewed her cunning, Such perfit skill shee had at will, shee never used running.91 O this &c For having strain'd her milke in turning once about, Shee had the best Curd that ever you saw by the sent92 of the strayning clout. O this &c Shee was the choysest Nurse that lived in all the West; Her face was white as the charcoal 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 myselfe, a cleanly good Nurse was shee. The garments which she did weare did shine like the brazen Crock, And where she went, she bore such a sent that the flyes blew in her frock. O this &c My Aunt so curious was, as I to you may tell, She used to make fat puddings in markets for to sell. O this &c The smallest Candle end my Aunt would never lose It would helpe to make her puddings fat with the droppings of her nose. O this &c Another trick she had as I shall now declare, Shee never swept the house, about foure times a yeare. O this &c And when she swept the Hall, the Parler or the Spence, The dust was worth to her at least, a shilling or 14 pence. O this &c One day my Aunt was set by the fier side a spinning, As she knew well what was to do to wollen or to linnen. O this &c A change came in her minde, her worke being in great hast, She burn'd her Tow, her Wheele and all because she would make no wast. O this &c My Aunt so patient was of this I dare be bold, That with her Neighbours shee was never knowne to scolde. O this &c Her lips with lothsome words she seldome would defile, But sometimes she would whisper so loud you might heare her half a mile O this &c Yet one condition more unto you I will show, Shee washt her dishes once a moneth, and set them on a row. O this &c If other wise she had but of a dish clout faile, She would set them to the Dog to lick and wipe them with his tayle. O this &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 myselfe, a cleanely woman was she. L. P93