



Produced by Suzanne Shell, Marit Henningsen and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team





The Diverting History of John Gilpin

One of R. Caldecott's Picture Books

1878

[Illustration: The Diverting History of John Gilpin]

[Illustration]

==THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN:==

_Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home
again._

[Illustration: Written by William Cowper with drawings by R. Caldecott.]

    John Gilpin was a citizen
      Of credit and renown,
    A train-band captain eke was he,
      Of famous London town.

    John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
      "Though wedded we have been
    These twice ten tedious years, yet we
      No holiday have seen.

    "To-morrow is our wedding-day,
      And we will then repair
    Unto the 'Bell' at Edmonton,
      All in a chaise and pair.

    "My sister, and my sister's child,
      Myself, and children three,
    Will fill the chaise; so you must ride
      On horseback after we."
    [Illu