  I. That stands upon a hill, And all who in the Fly May see it if they will. II. But there to them it doth appear An humble barn, tho' neat, I wish the rector every year Had it choke full of wheat. III. I only mean, supposing it A very barn indeed; I'm sure he'd give thereof what's fit To them who stand in need. IV. The steeple then, you may presume, Is not like that of Grantham, For bells and chimes there was no room, And now they do not want them. V. In vain the Quakers it abuse, And with their canting flout it, Calling this church a steeple-house, There's no such thing about it. VI. Altho' no steeple doth appear, Yet bells they're not without, High hung in air, aloft they are, But where? Ah! there's the doubt. VII. How this can be, for you to tell Requires somewhat to think on; And yet they serve the folks as well As would Great Tom of Lincoln. VIII. The architect, a silly man, (And artist too—God wot;) Some say, when up he drew his plan, The steeple he forgot. IX. But that was not the cause of it, Our wiser rector fancies; 'Twas not the builder's lack of wit, But want of the finances. X. To rectify this great neglect, Before the cash was spent all, An useful thing he did erect, Both cheap and ornamental. XI. For he a simple wall did raise Upon the west-end gable, And I must own, unto his praise, It stands yet firm and stable. XII. And of his skill to give some proof, Which he'd not done before: He built it up above the roof, Some six feet high or more. XIII. Of this, from north to south th' extent Was full as long as high, For doing which his wise intent I'll tell you bye and bye. XIV. Two holes quite thro' this wall were seen Like windows in a garret, That two small bells might hang therein, For passengers to stare at. XV. But how to get these bells—alas! Much jangling did create, Much ale, and much tobacco, was Consum'd in the debate. XVI. One wiser than the rest propos'd To draw up a petition, To pity their condition. XVII. That he would kindly grant this boon, Unto his tenants all, The dinner-bell that calls at noon The vassals to his hall. XVIII. When to sir George they did impart, How much they stood in need, He said he'd give't, with all his heart, And sent it them with speed. XIX. Their need by this being half supply'd, They wanted now but one, But that, with judgment great, they cried, Should have a shriller tone. XX. One thought upon a tavern bell, Another on a miller's, A third thought one would do as well That tinkles on a thill-horse. XXI. "A fine one's in the Angel bar," Says one, "and I can steal it, If on the bible you'll all swear You never will reveal it." XXII. The clerk, a simple tailor, cry'd He'd never touch the string, Or whatsoever else they ty'd To the accursed thing. XXIII. The tailor's speech did for some time Put all in great combustion, They said it was no greater crime To steal a bell than fustian. XXIV. Here they had stuck, had it not been For what I shall relate, A gift to them quite unforeseen Which was decreed by fate. XXV. A neighb'ring corp'rate town, Their crier's bell too small, To get one with a deeper sound Had call'd a common-hall. XXVI. The mayor, for th' honor of the place, Commendably was zealous, And of whate'er might it disgrace Was equally as
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