2 His father, intending his fortune to
build,
In his youth would have taught
him the trowel to wield.
But the mortar of discipline
never would stick,
For his skull was secured
by a facing of brick;
And with all his endeavours
of patience and pain,
The skill of his sire he could
never attain.
3 His mother, a housewife, neat, artful,
and wise,
Renown’d for her delicate
biscuit and pies,
Soon alter’d his studies,
by flattering his taste,
From the raising of wall to
the rearing of paste;
But all her instructions were
fruitless and vain,
The pye-making mystery he
could ne’er attain.
4 Yet, true to his race, in his labours
were seen
A jumble of both their professions,
I ween;
For when his own genius he
ventured to trust,
His pies seem’d of brick,
and his houses of crust;
Then, good Mr Tutor, pray
be not so vain,
Since your family arts you
could never attain.
END OF SMOLLETT’S POEMS.