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Farewell; old JASPER!
Ballad: PHRENOLOGY。
〃COME; collar this bad man …
Around the throat he knotted me
Till I to choke began …
In point of fact; garotted me!〃
So spake SIR HERBERT WRITE
To JAMES; Policeman Thirty…two …
All ruffled with his fight
SIR HERBERT was; and dirty too。
Policeman nothing said
(Though he had much to say on it);
But from the bad man's head
He took the cap that lay on it。
〃No; great SIR HERBERT WHITE …
Impossible to take him up。
This man is honest quite …
Wherever did you rake him up?
〃For Burglars; Thieves; and Co。;
Indeed; I'm no apologist;
But I; some years ago;
Assisted a Phrenologist。
〃Observe his various bumps;
His head as I uncover it:
His morals lie in lumps
All round about and over it。〃
〃Now take him;〃 said SIR WHITE;
〃Or you will soon be rueing it;
Bless me! I must be right; …
I caught the fellow doing it!〃
Policeman calmly smiled;
〃Indeed you are mistaken; sir;
You're agitated … riled …
And very badly shaken; sir。
〃Sit down; and I'll explain
My system of Phrenology;
A second; please; remain〃 …
(A second is horology)。
Policeman left his beat …
(The Bart。; no longer furious;
Sat down upon a seat;
Observing; 〃This is curious!〃)
〃Oh; surely; here are signs
Should soften your rigidity:
This gentleman combines
Politeness with timidity。
〃Of Shyness here's a lump …
A hole for Animosity …
And like my fist his bump
Of Impecuniosity。
〃Just here the bump appears
Of Innocent Hilarity;
And just behind his ears
Are Faith; and Hope; and Charity。
He of true Christian ways
As bright example sent us is …
This maxim he obeys;
'SORTE TUA CONTENTUS SIS。'
〃There; let him go his ways;
He needs no stern admonishing。〃
The Bart。; in blank amaze;
Exclaimed; 〃This is astonishing!
〃I MUST have made a mull;
This matter I've been blind in it:
Examine; please; MY skull;
And tell me what you find in it。〃
That Crusher looked; and said;
With unimpaired urbanity;
〃SIR HERBERT; you've a head
That teems with inhumanity。
〃Here's Murder; Envy; Strife
(Propensity to kill any);
And Lies as large as life;
And heaps of Social Villany。
〃Here's Love of Bran…New Clothes;
Embezzling … Arson … Deism …
A taste for Slang and Oaths;
And Fraudulent Trusteeism。
〃Here's Love of Groundless Charge …
Here's Malice; too; and Trickery;
Unusually large
Your bump of Pocket…Pickery … 〃
〃Stop!〃 said the Bart。; 〃my cup
Is full … I'm worse than him in all;
Policeman; take me up …
No doubt I am some criminal!〃
That Pleeceman's scorn grew large
(Phrenology had nettled it);
He took that Bart。 in charge …
I don't know how they settled it。
Ballad: THE FAIRY CURATE。
ONCE a fairy
Light and airy
Married with a mortal;
Men; however;
Never; never
Pass the fairy portal。
Slyly stealing;
She to Ealing
Made a daily journey;
There she found him;
Clients round him
(He was an attorney)。
Long they tarried;
Then they married。
When the ceremony
Once was ended;
Off they wended
On their moon of honey。
Twelvemonth; maybe;
Saw a baby
(Friends performed an orgie)。
Much they prized him;
And baptized him
By the name of GEORGIE;
GEORGIE grew up;
Then he flew up
To his fairy mother。
Happy meeting …
Pleasant greeting …
Kissing one another。
〃Choose a calling
Most enthralling;
I sincerely urge ye。〃
〃Mother;〃 said he
(Rev'rence made he);
〃I would join the clergy。
〃Give permission
In addition …
Pa will let me do it:
There's a living
In his giving …
He'll appoint me to it。
Dreams of coff'ring;
Easter off'ring;
Tithe and rent and pew…rate;
So inflame me
(Do not blame me);
That I'll be a curate。〃
She; with pleasure;
Said; 〃My treasure;
'T is my wish precisely。
Do your duty;
There's a beauty;
You have chosen wisely。
Tell your father
I would rather
As a churchman rank you。
You; in clover;
I'll watch over。〃
GEORGIE said; 〃Oh; thank you!〃
GEORGIE scudded;
Went and studied;
Made all preparations;
And with credit
(Though he said it)
Passed examinations。
(Do not quarrel
With him; moral;
Scrupulous digestions …
'Twas his mother;
And no other;
Answered all the questions。)
Time proceeded;
Little needed
GEORGIE admonition:
He; elated;
Vindicated
Clergyman's position。
People round him
Always found him
Plain and unpretending;
Kindly teaching;
Plainly preaching;
All his money lending。
So the fairy;
Wise and wary;
Felt no sorrow rising …
No occasion
For persuasion;
Warning; or advising。
He; resuming
Fairy pluming
(That's not English; is it?)
Oft would fly up;
To the sky up;
Pay mamma a visit。
* * * * * * * *
Time progressing;
GEORGIE'S blessing
Grew more Ritualistic …
Popish scandals;
Tonsures … sandals …
Genuflections mystic;
Gushing meetings …
Bosom…beatings …
Heavenly ecstatics …
Broidered spencers …
Copes and censers …
Rochets and dalmatics。
This quandary
Vexed the fairy …
Flew she down to Ealing。
〃GEORGIE; stop it!
Pray you; drop it;
Hark to my appealing:
To this foolish
Papal rule…ish
Twaddle put an ending;
This a swerve is
From our Service
Plain and unpretending。〃
He; replying;
Answered; sighing;
Hawing; hemming; humming;
〃It's a pity …
They're so pritty;
Yet in mode becoming;
Mother tender;
I'll surrender …
I'll be unaffected … 〃
But his Bishop
Into HIS shop
Entered unexpected!
〃Who is this; sir; …
Ballet miss; sir?〃
Said the Bishop coldly。
〃'T is my mother;
And no other;〃
GEORGIE answered boldly。
〃Go along; sir!
You are wrong; sir;
You have years in plenty;
While this hussy
(Gracious mussy!)
Isn't two and twenty!〃
(Fairies clever
Never; never
Grow in visage older;
And the fairy;
All unwary;
Leant upon his shoulder!)
Bishop grieved him;
Disbelieved him;
GEORGE the point grew warm on;
Changed religion;
Like a pigeon; (14)
And became a Mormon!
Ballad: THE WAY OF WOOING。
A MAIDEN sat at her window wide;
Pretty enough for a Prince's bride;
Yet nobody came to claim her。
She sat like a beautiful picture there;
With pretty bluebells and roses fair;
And jasmine…leaves to frame her。
And why she sat there nobody knows;
But this she sang as she plucked a rose;
The leaves around her strewing:
〃I've time to lose and power to choose;
'T is not so much the gallant who woos;
But the gallant's WAY of wooing!〃
A lover came riding by awhile;
A wealthy lover was he; whose smile
Some maids would value greatly …
A formal lover; who bowed and bent;
With many a high…flown compliment;
And cold demeanour stately;
〃You've still;〃 said she