IV SATIRE A BALLADE OF SUICIDE THE gallows in my garden, people say, As one that knots his necktie for a ball; But just as all the neighbours-on the wall— To-morrow is the time I get my pay- I think I will not hang myself to-day. The world will have another washing day; And through thick woods one finds a stream astray, I think I will not hang myself to-day. Finnigin to Flannigan ENVOI Prince, I can hear the trump of Germinal, 225 G. K. Chesterton. FINNIGIN TO FLANNIGAN SUPERINTENDENT wuz Flannigan; Afther the wrick wuz all on ag'in; That is, this Finnigin Repoorted to Flannigan.. Whin Finnigin furst writ to Flannigan, Now Flannigan knowed more than Finnigin- Whin Finnigin got this from Flannigan, He blushed rosy rid, did Finnigin; An' he said: "I'll gamble a whole month's pa-ay Repoorts won't be long ag'in." Wan da-ay, on the siction av Finnigin, An' some kyars went off as they made the swerve. "There's nobody hurted," sez Finnigin, "But repoorts must be made to Flannigan." An' he winked at McGorrigan, As married a Finnigin. He wuz shantyin' thin, wuz Finnigin, As minny a railroader's been ag'in, An' the shmoky ol' lamp wuz burnin' bright Bilin' down his repoort, was Finnigin! An' he writed this here: "Muster Flannigan: Gone ag'in-Finnigin." S. W. Gillinan. STUDY OF AN ELEVATION, IN INDIAN INK POTIPHAR GUBBINS, C. E., Stands at the top of the tree; And I muse in my bed on the reasons that led Potiphar Gubbins, C. E., Is seven years junior to Me; Each bridge that he makes either buckles or breaks, And his work is as rough as he. The V-a-s-c Potiphar Gubbins, C. E., Is coarse as a chimpanzee; 227 And I can't understand why you gave him your hand, Lovely Mehitabel Lee. Potiphar Gubbins, C. E., Is dear to the Powers that Be; For they bow and They smile in an affable style Potiphar Gubbins, C. E., Is certain as certain can be Of a highly paid post which is claimed by a host Careless and lazy is he, What is the spell that you manage so well, Lovely Mehitabel Lee, Let me inquire of thee, Should I have riz to what Potiphar is, Hadst thou been mated to Me? Rudyard Kipling. THE V-A-S-E FROM the madding crowd they stand apart, And none might tell from sight alone The Gotham Million fair to see, The Boston Mind of azure hue, Or the soulful Soul from Kalamazoo, For all loved Art in a seemly way, Long they worshiped; but no one broke The Western one from the nameless place, Over three faces a sad smile flew, And they edged away from Kalamazoo. But Gotham's haughty soul was stirred Deftly hiding reproof in praise, She cries, ""Tis, indeed, a lovely vaze!" But brief her unworthy triumph when With the consciousness of two grandpapas, And glances round with an anxious thrill, But the Boston maid smiles courteouslee, "I did not catch your remark, because Dies erit praegelida Sinistra quum Bostonia. James Jeffrey Roche. |