"But stay," said MR. PETER: "when in England, as you know, I earned a living tasting teas for BAKER, CROOP, AND CO., I may be superseded-my employers think me dead!" "Then come with me," said SOMERS, "and taste indigo instead." But all their plans were scattered in a moment when they found The vessel was a convict ship from Portland, outward bound! When a boat came off to fetch them, though they felt it very kind, To go on board they firmly but respectfully declined. 'Twas ROBINSON-a convict, in an unbecoming frock! Condemned to seven years for misappropriating stock!!! They laughed no more, for SOMERS thought he had been rather rash In knowing one whose friend had misappropriated cash; And PETER thought a foolish tack he must have gone upon In making the acquaintance of a friend of ROBINSON. At first they didn't quarrel very openly, I've heard; They nodded when they met, and now and then exchanged a word: The word grew rare, and rarer still the nodding of the head, And when they meet each other now, they cut each other dead. To allocate the island they agreed by word of mouth, south; And PETER has the oysters, which he loathes with horror grim, And SOMERS has the turtle-turtle disagrees with him. Bab THE DISCONCERTED TENOR A TENOR, all singers above (This doesn't admit of a question), Attend to his diet, And carefully nurse his digestion. But when he is madly in love, It's certain to tell on his singing You can't do chromatics With proper emphatics When anguish your bosom is wringing! Now observe-(sings a high note)- I could sing, if my fervour were mock, Is born of devotion, You mustn't be over-exacting. One ought to be firm as a rock Keep cool and collected, Or never attempt agitato. But, of course, when his tongue is of leather, I ONCE did know a Turkish man Whom I upon a two-pair-back met, His name it was EFFENDI KHAN BACKSHEESH PASHA BEN ALLAH ACHMET. A DOCTOR BROWN I also knew- I knew a nice young lady there, Her name was EMILY MACPHERSON, And though she wore another's hair, She was an interesting person. The Turk adored the maid of Hooe (Although his harem would have shocked her). But BROWN adored that maiden too: He was a most seductive doctor. |