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Poem
July 27, 1838
Burlington Free Press
Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont
What is this article about?
Nostalgic poem reminiscing about an honest shoemaker, Uncle Lot, in the speaker's boyhood, contrasting his faithful craftsmanship with modern dishonesty and shoddy work. Ends with his death and farewell.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE HONEST CORDWAINER
BY B. BROWN, ESQ.
In the days of my boyhood (I recollect well,
And others no doubt the same story can tell,)
Our tradesmen were honest;-no one tho't of cheating,
And what is still stranger, they all went to meeting!
There was shoemaker Lot;
I remember the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With his strap on his knee—
He was upright and fair,
Ay, exact to a hair,
And a faithful old Cordwainer he.
On a moonshiny night, (Thanksgiving was coming,)
I mounted in haste Uncle Jeremy's mare ;
"Off Dobbin," said I, "let your trotters be drumming
Toward Uncle Lot's." and she soon had me there.
O, good Uncle Lot,
I remember the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With his strap on his knee :-
Our shoes were all ready,
For me and for Neddy,
And Sally and Hetty,
And Dolly and Betty,
What a faithful old Cordwainer he,
Then, there was the stitching, so strong and so nice;
Why, the threads held the leather as firm as a vice!
There was none of your pegging, and none of your nailing,
And there was no fretting, no scolding, no railing.
When Shoemaker Lot,
He worked on the spot,
Which I never forgot,
With his strap on his knee,
How strong he would sew then !
Ah, could he now show them,
What a faithful old Cordwainer he.
But alas now-a-days, how changed is this matter,
Old honesty seems to go begging about !
For one scarce has a coat, or a shoe, or a garter,
That lasts more than three weeks before it's worn out.
O, that some Uncle Lot
Would again take the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With the strap o'er his knee;
Who would work at the trade,
And have shoes duly made,
No cheat and no cozen,
No rips by the dozen,-
How useful a Cordwainer he.
Our good Uncle Lot lately took his departure,
And went to inhabit the Land of the Leal!
No doubt but his soul will there find better quarter,
But then he has left us all down at the heel!
O, blest Uncle Lot,
I do verily wot
You will ne'er be forgot,
Nor the strap on your knee,
Your making your mending,
Nor all your wax-ending,
Adieu, Uncle Lot, now to thee.
BY B. BROWN, ESQ.
In the days of my boyhood (I recollect well,
And others no doubt the same story can tell,)
Our tradesmen were honest;-no one tho't of cheating,
And what is still stranger, they all went to meeting!
There was shoemaker Lot;
I remember the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With his strap on his knee—
He was upright and fair,
Ay, exact to a hair,
And a faithful old Cordwainer he.
On a moonshiny night, (Thanksgiving was coming,)
I mounted in haste Uncle Jeremy's mare ;
"Off Dobbin," said I, "let your trotters be drumming
Toward Uncle Lot's." and she soon had me there.
O, good Uncle Lot,
I remember the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With his strap on his knee :-
Our shoes were all ready,
For me and for Neddy,
And Sally and Hetty,
And Dolly and Betty,
What a faithful old Cordwainer he,
Then, there was the stitching, so strong and so nice;
Why, the threads held the leather as firm as a vice!
There was none of your pegging, and none of your nailing,
And there was no fretting, no scolding, no railing.
When Shoemaker Lot,
He worked on the spot,
Which I never forgot,
With his strap on his knee,
How strong he would sew then !
Ah, could he now show them,
What a faithful old Cordwainer he.
But alas now-a-days, how changed is this matter,
Old honesty seems to go begging about !
For one scarce has a coat, or a shoe, or a garter,
That lasts more than three weeks before it's worn out.
O, that some Uncle Lot
Would again take the spot,
And the bench where he sot,
With the strap o'er his knee;
Who would work at the trade,
And have shoes duly made,
No cheat and no cozen,
No rips by the dozen,-
How useful a Cordwainer he.
Our good Uncle Lot lately took his departure,
And went to inhabit the Land of the Leal!
No doubt but his soul will there find better quarter,
But then he has left us all down at the heel!
O, blest Uncle Lot,
I do verily wot
You will ne'er be forgot,
Nor the strap on your knee,
Your making your mending,
Nor all your wax-ending,
Adieu, Uncle Lot, now to thee.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Honest Cordwainer
Uncle Lot
Shoemaker
Nostalgia
Honesty
Tradesmen
Thanksgiving
Craftsmanship
What entities or persons were involved?
By B. Brown, Esq.
Poem Details
Title
The Honest Cordwainer
Author
By B. Brown, Esq.
Subject
Reminiscence Of Honest Shoemaker Uncle Lot
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
There Was Shoemaker Lot;
I Remember The Spot,
And The Bench Where He Sot,
With His Strap On His Knee—
He Was Upright And Fair,
Ay, Exact To A Hair,
And A Faithful Old Cordwainer He.
O, Good Uncle Lot,
I Remember The Spot,
And The Bench Where He Sot,
With His Strap On His Knee :
But Alas Now A Days, How Changed Is This Matter,
Old Honesty Seems To Go Begging About !
Adieu, Uncle Lot, Now To Thee.