ARI Smart Content - Data Table

Click to show on right, Sources for Song below
Bargery Number 589
Music (Given or Suggested) Poem
Printer or Publisher Punch Magazine
Evidence for Earliest Date Punch was a topical satirical magazine and the poem was almost certainly written shortly before publication
Latest Date 1845
Evidence for Latest Date Date of publication
Source of Text Punch or the London Charivari. Punch Vol VIII p101
Where Printed London
Roud Not in the Roud Index
First Line Pity the sorrows of a third-class man
Variant Set No variants found
Comments on Song The poem appears next to a humorous article contrasting the degrees of politeness with which first, second and third class passengers are treated.
Source Title The Third Class Traveller's Petition
Other Imprints No other imprints found
Origin Magazine

Third Class Traveller's Petition, the

Pity the sorrows of a third-class man,
Whose trembling limbs with snow are whitened o'er,
Who for his fare has paid you all he can:
Cover him in, and let him freeze no more! [Note 589.1]

This dripping hat my roofless pen bespeaks,
So does the puddle reaching to my knees;
Behold my pinch'd red nose-my shrivell'd cheeks:
You should not have such carriages as these.

In vain I stamp to warm my aching feet,
I only paddle in a pool of slush;
My stiffen'd hands in vain I blow and beat;
Tears from my eyes congealing as they gush.

Keen blows the wind; the sleet comes pelting down,
And here I'm standing in the open air!
Long is my dreary journey up to Town¹,
That is, alive, if ever I get there.

Oh! from the weather, when it snows and rains,
You might as well, at least, defend the poor;
It would not cost you much, with all your gains:
Cover us in, and luck attend your store. [Note 589.2]

3 across Articles in this Category: click a link

Greenock Railway ('Twas on a Monday...

bar146: Dates 1841~1843|

Scene at Dunoon whence Glasgow bound travellers catch the early morning steamer to Greenock to connect with the city train.

Battle Fought On The Shields Railway,

bar021: Dates 1839~1839|

 A disagreement between passengers and Railway Police comes to blows and ends in court.

Bowling Railway

bar040: Dates 1850~1851|

The discomforts of the journey by train and ferry from Glasgow to Dumbarton.

Bradshaw's Guide

bar041: Dates ----~1876|

A couple travelling by train use Bradshaw's Guide as a pretext for a flirtation which leads to courtship and marriage.

Brighton Railway

bar045: Dates 1857~1861|

Description of journey from  London to Brighton.

Charming Young Widow I Met in the Train...

bar520: Dates 1863~----|

 The hero is travelling by train to London when he meets a widow. When the train stops the widow alights and leaves her baby in the care...

Charming Young Widow I Met on the Train...

bar058: Dates 1863~1863|

A traveller from North Wales to London is robbed by a woman posing as a widow with a babe in arms.

Howdon For Jarrow, Loup Out!

bar538: Dates 1861~1879|

Problems with the local railway service to Jarrow

Iron Horse, The

bar184: Dates 1848~1848|

 A naive traveller goes from Dundee to Perth. 

Paddy on the Railway

bar304: Dates 1841~1866|

An Irishman - accused of travelling without the proper ticket - reacts by attacking his accuser.

Paddy on the Greenock Railway

bar534: Dates 1841~1855|

An Irishman - accused of travelling without a ticket - reacts violently and is imprisoned.

Railroad travelling or a roide I' th'...

bar515: Dates 1840~1835|

The story of the hero's journey from Stockport to Manchester and back again on the newly opened railway.

Railway Foot Warmer

bar328: Dates ----~1880|

Femme fatale shares foot warmer and then extorts money from hero.

She Went Right Past Her Junction

bar377: Dates ----~1898|

An amorous encounter leading to a 'breach of promise' suit.

Taith Y Cardi O Landyssul I Lundain

bar521: Dates 1863~1875|

A welsh language version of the Charming Young Widow I Met in the Train

Third Class Traveller's Petition, the

bar589: Dates ----~1845|

 A passenger bemoans the discomforts of open carriages.

Battle Fought On The Shields Railway,...

bar021copy: Dates 1839~1839|

 A disagreement between passengers and Railway Police comes to blows and ends in court.

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