Alexandria Gazette

THE WANDERING MINSTREL.

Who, that has perambulated the streets of London, has not heard Bill Raven advertising his 'three yards of new and pop'lar songs for a hap-ny;' and who that has once heard, can ever forget him-and bis voice-for, as with Braham, the man and his voice must ever be associated? Thoughts-of Braham naturally inspire recollec- tions of a voice wild and soft as an Eolian harp on a summer's eve; and, in like manner, remi- niscences of BillRaven immediately bring to mind a voice shrill and hoarse as a penny trum- pet with a sore throat. Through the streets he goes, struggling to raise a shout, but unable to give vent to any sound above a wheeze, with what may be called his nightmare voice. His throatseems to be lined with a worsted stocking. There is evidently something out of order in his vocal organ, or rather his vocal hurdy-gurdy. His windpipe appears as if it wanted oiling.- Even now we fancy we can hear him in the tones of a knife grinding machine, grunting forth his well known cry—'Ere you 'as 'em 'ere. one hundred and fifty new and pop'lar hairs for a hap-ny. But Bill Raven not only deals in the ballads of the young Bailey, but also in those of the Old. Never does the law take its course on a misera- ble individual, but the sympathetic Bill is tobe seen crying about the melancholy occurrence for weeks afterwards. ''Ere you 'as it, 'ere the full, true and parti- c'lar account of the unfortunate individ'al wot was hexecrated this morning at the Old Billy, for the small charge of one ha'p'ny.' An announcement which doubtlesslystartles some of the bystanders, who, as they themselves say, 'always thinked as how Mr. Pill's Act made it impossible to hang a body for less nor forty shillings The double meaning of the word Ketchpennies, is the 'Copy of verses' appended to the narrative. I recollect one which ran nearly as follows:-

Draw hither now good people all,
And let my story warn;
For I will tell to you a tale
Wot'll rend those breasts of your'n.

On Monday morn at eight o'clock,
Right opposite Newgate,
John Jones was hung, his horrid crimes
All for to expiate.

And just before the drop did fall.
He did confess most true,
That he did do the crue! deed
Wot I will tell to you.

All through a wicked gal it was,
I killd my master dear;
Twas she induced me for to cut
His throat from here to here.

The clock struck eight, the knot was tied,
Most dismal for to see;
The drop did fall, and launched him right
Into eternity.

Take warning then all you who would
Not die like malefactors;
Never the company for to keep
Of gals with bad characters.

One day as Bill was bawling through the streets, he met a friend, when the following curi- ous conversation took place:-

'I say, Bill,' exclaimed his friend, vhy 'doesn't you take to the singing line?'

'Vhy,' says Bill, vhy, coz I sings vorser nor an old tea-kettle.'

'Vorser! So much the betterer.' replied the acquaintance. 'Oh, yurn's a helegant woice for ballad-singing; a sartin fortin to any von, blow me!'

'Jist show a light,' says Bill.

'Vell. then,' returns his friend, 'I means to say if von with a voice like yourn was only to strike up afore a house, and especially them with the knockers tied up, they'd villingly give six- pence to get rid on you.'

'I twigs,' exclaimed Bill; 'but I say, Jim, if my woice is a sartin fortin, vot'd the bagpipes be?'

'You're right,' replied Jim; vot a jolly row they would kick up to be sure. La, bless you, in a quiet willage they'd give any thing to get rid on you.'

'Ah,' cried Bill! 'directly I started, up 'ud come the sarvants vith twopence or threepence. and horder me to move on! Move on for that, says I; what do you think that I'm hintirely hig- norant of the walley of peace and quietness--I ne'er moves on under sixpence. And you'd get it too, precious quick,' said Jim.

'I believes you.'

I have heard it said that Bill Raven is now the well-known Wandering Minstrel.

Bell's Weekly Magazine.