The Gin Shop 3

Abstract

Printed in the children’s magazine The Band of Hope Review over three monthly issues in 1868, George Cruikshank presents his cautionary tale as a parody of the rhyme ‘This is the House that Jack built.’ The Gin Shop is a good example of the ‘Road to Ruin’ pattern which ends happily, due to an intervention and the signing of a pledge.

The Gin-Shop.
With Twelve Original Illustrations by George Cruikshank

No. 9.
This is the paper, the poor drunkard signed,
Which was brought by the pastor, so noble and kind,
Who pitied the woman, with woebegone face,
And her husband, the drunkard, in rags and disgrace,
Who is served by the lady, all jewels and lace,
The wife of the landlord who coins his bright gold,
Out of the ruin of youthful and old,
Who drink the strong liquors he sells night and day,
At the bar of the Gin-shop, so glittering and gay.

No. 10.
This is the church, to which, one Sabbath-day,
The once wretched drunkard and wife took their way,
Drawn there by the pastor, so loving and kind,
Who brought him the pledge which he joyfully signed ;
The pastor who pitied the woman’s sad case,
And her husband, the drunkard, in rags and disgrace ;
Who was served by the lady, all jewels and lace,
The wife of the landlord who coins his bright gold,
Out of the ruin of youthful and old,
Who drink the strong liquors he sells night and day,
At the bar of the Gin-shop, so glittering and gay.

No. 11.
The Sun of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost – Luke XIX.10
This is the text which the good pastor chose,
And the light on the soul of the drunkard arose,
As he sat in the church, to which one Sabbath-day,
Along with his wife he had taken his way,
Drawn there by the pastor, so loving and kind,
Who brought him the pledge which he joyfully signed ;
The pastor who pitied the woman’s sad case,
And her husband, the drunkard, in rags and disgrace ;
Who was served by the lady, all jewels and lace,
The wife of the landlord who coins his bright gold,
Out of the ruin of youthful and old,
Who drink the strong liquors he sells night and day,
At the bar of the Gin-shop, so glittering and gay.

No. 12.
This is the cottage, the home of delight,
Whence prayer, like an incense, ascends day and night,
Where joy and contentment sit smiling so bright –
Whence came this glad home where such comforts unite?
From the heaven-blest text which the pastor chose,
When light on the soul of the drunkard arose,
As he sat in the church, to which each Sabbath-day,
His wife and he, happy at heart, take their way,
Drawn there by the pastor, so noble and kind,
Who brought him the pledge which he joyfully signed ;
The pastor who pitied the woman’s sad case,
And her husband, the drunkard, in rags and disgrace ;
Who was served by the lady, all jewels and lace,
The wife of the landlord who coins his bright gold,
Out of the ruin of youthful and old,
Who drink the strong liquors he sells night and day,
At the bar of the Gin-shop, so glittering and gay.

The Twelve Engravings of the GIN-SHOP, by George Cruikshank, will shortly be issued as a “BROADSHEET”, for the walls of Schools, Workshops, &c.
Price One Penny. It will also be issued in the Book form.