
Transcriber's note.
OVERTURE.
LAZY LAYS.
CASUAL CAROLS.
THE SOCIAL ZODIAC.
IDLE SONGS.
A SINGER'S SKETCH-BOOK.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE FIRST EDITION.
A light‑hearted collection of verse finds its voice in a wandering minstrel who prefers the gentle hum of a banjo to any grand ambition. The poems drift through lazy riverbanks, bustling lock‑side scenes and sun‑soaked meadows, sketching vivid snapshots of boats, breezy cattle and flirtatious maidens with a playful, almost conversational rhythm. Each piece is stitched together with witty rhyme and a touch of Victorian charm, inviting the listener to linger in the simple pleasure of idle observation.
The second half of the book turns its attention to the capricious moods of early spring, pairing the chill of wind and coughs with a cheerful “tra‑la‑la” refrain. Through gentle satire the minstrel pokes fun at doctors, fashions and the everyday grind, all while keeping the tone breezy and inviting. Listeners will find a soothing soundtrack for quiet moments, a melodic escape that celebrates doing nothing at all.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (157K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Irma pehar, Eleni Christofaki and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2013-06-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

d. 1917
A witty Victorian man of letters, he wrote light verse, fiction, and lively journalism, and became especially known for his contributions to Punch. His work often mixed humor, social observation, and a fond eye for London and the Thames.
View all books
by Geoffrey Chaucer

by Nathaniel Bright Emerson

by de Lorris Guillaume, de Meun Jean

by de Lorris Guillaume, de Meun Jean

by Sir Edwin Arnold

by Homer

by Hesiod