The boot and shoe maker sits at his work area and attaches the leather to the sole of the shoe. He smokes a pipe, and his posture and expression suggest sadness. A tankard is on the table next to him. A cloth (possibly a handkerchief) hangs next to the boots and shoes are on the wall behind him., Text: O! you are boot-iful, yet wax not wroth, / If I say you're the last man on the earth / That I would permit my all to control, / Or join in the wedlock of soul with sole., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A shoemaker attaches the leather upper to the sole of a shoe. "Snob" is slang for a shoemaker., Text: Your awl is little; you're near your last: / 'Tis time you try to mend; / Your ends wax close; so work on fast / To save your sole, my friend., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A shoemaker sits joining a leather upper to the sole of a shoe. Awls and other tools lie on the bench next to him. The text suggests that his lapstone (a tool for beating leather) is as large as his heart -- if he has a heart -- and advises him to forego marriage., Text: My jolly old cobbler! with heart, if you've got one, / Which I'm certain you have as large as your lapstone, / Dont think to get married, but still in content, / Try to make your ends meet, and pull out for the rent., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The snob, or shoemaker, sews the leather upper to the sole of the shoe. The valentine mocks his appearance, drinking, and courtship of unobtainable women., Text: Now, Mr. Snobby, when next you're at work, / At hammering a sole on your lap, / For the sake of the woman who'd ever have you, / Just commit suicide with your strap. / Oh! wax'd ends and leather! tho' what do I see, / Getting toddy'd wherever you can; / Both stupid and lazy, and shabbily dress'd, / I believe that he thinks he's a man., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
