It happened one day down in Henry Street,
The whole band of tinkers, I happened to meet.
There was some from Roscommon and more from Kildare,
Some down from Miltown, the devil knows where.

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When the tinkers they met they began for to chat,
They had English and French and the devil knows what,
Like the birds in the bushes, they all did agree
To go into the boozer and kick up a spree.

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Those tinkers came in and sat round at the hall.
For the best of good Guinness those tinkers did call.
They were drinking alright ‘till the money was gone
And the kicking the flop he thought of the sop.

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He said, ‘Mr O’Brien, I know you’re a friend,
I’m told you’re the habit in money to lend,
If you lend me the price of one gallon of beer,
I’ll give you my budget,* my nipper and shear.

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The bargain was made without no delay,
? got his money and his ticket to walk out.
He walked out when the job it was done
And all the town, sure they laughed at the fun.

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T’auld kitbag was taken and laid by the wall,
In a half an hour after a child had to bawl.
The pawnbroker rose and he said to his wife,
‘There’s a child in the budget, by God, he’s alive!’

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T’auld kitbag was taken without no delay;
And they found a child rolled in a small sop of hay.
The pawnbroker rose and he couldn’t forget
He sent down the child before John ? the Mayor.

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When the Mayor see the child, sure he nearly dropped dead,
To think that the kitbag could be brought to bed.
‘Get me his father without no delay,
And I’ll send him down to Limerick Jail.’

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So now to conclude and to finish my song,
I hope you’ll all say my verse it is wrong.
The place it was searched, the old daughter was found,
And the pawnbroker settled and gave him a pound.

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* A budget is a bag or knapsack used for carrying tools.