The day was quite pleasant, the Fourteenth of May,

When most of the neighbours began to look gay,

Such brushing, and washing, and dressing was there,

And nothing was talk’d of but Haltwhistle Fair.

You may be quite sure I was pleas’d to the heart,

To think I was going there to act my part;

While pleasure is going, I will have my share,

And see the nice lasses at Haltwhistle Fair.

Old Hetelwood briskly attended his boat,

And jested the Ladies while they were afloat;

He landed them all with a great deal of care,

And wish’d them all sweethearts at Haltwhistle Fair.

We enter’d the town with a great deal of glee,

Where hawkers and pedlers in scores you might see:

The task would be endless to tell of the ware

They had put up for sale at Haltwhistle Fair.

The spade and the shuttle neglected they lay,

The tailor his trimmings and cloth put away,

The smith threw his hammer down—You may lie there,

For this day I’ll make one at Haltwhistle Fair.

The man in the barn he threw down his flail,

And came to this place for a drink of good ale;

The coal-pits were empty, no person was there,

They went like their neighbours to Haltwhistle Fair.

Old women on crutches, who hardly could go,

Who had kept their beds for a twelvemonth or so,

With grey beards, whose noddles were hoary or bare,

All came for a look at old Haltwhistle Fair.

Some people, they say, were so very keen,

As came with a view but to see and be seen,

And got so well pleas’d, they did vow and declare,

They never again would miss Haltwhistle Fair.

You have heard of Miss Bouncer, without any doubt,

What beauty she is from the head to the foot:

No business whatever had I, I declare,

But to see the dear creature at Haltwhistle Fair.

I looked about, my dear charmer to see,

I gaz’d at the crowd, and the crowd gaz’d at me;

At length I espy’d her—My dear, are you there?

I’m happy to see you at Haltwhistle Fair.

While music is going, I will have a dance,

So took in my fair one to caper and prance;

She danc’d a nice jig, keeping time to a hair,

And beat all the lasses at Haltwhistle Fair.

Miss Bouncer was so very loving and kind,

She smil’d in my face, while she drank up my wine;

Of punch and of cakes, oh my dear had her share,

And I paid expences at Haltwhistle Fair.

So kind and so loving, what less could I do,

Than buy the dear creature a fairing or two;

Some things that she fancied, I paid for I swear.

Says she, I shall oft think on Haltwhistle Fair.

With very good judgment, and very good sense,

I brought down my shillings to so many pence:

And sometime near midnight it fell to my share,

To see home Miss Bouncer, from Haltwhistle Fair.

I will grow very careful, and that you shall see,

To try if Miss Bouncer and me can agree;

Each shilling and sixpence I will hurd up with care,

In hopes for to spend them next Haltwhistle Fair.