_Woman_.—Oh, pray sir, pray, relieve a mother’s fear, And tell me if you have my Billy here? _Watch_.—Ay, that he is, I’m sure beyond a doubt, And so to-morrow you may bail him out. _Woman_.—She walks away, but still she sheds a tear— And calls for imprecations on the bear. * * * * * Next day the learned bear flies to his station, To be the judge of his own depredation; ’Tis now the foaming monster roars aloud, With face as black as a November cloud. Bring in your charge, but mind I say, At your perils let him get away. Now with a double guard there enters in A child, but just escaped from leading string. The monster with a dreadful stare, at large, Against the pris’ner ask’d what was the charge; The sable hero, with assurance ample, ’Tis dreadful, sir, exclaim’d, beyond example! As I stood on the Steine with sword in hand, I saw him brandish a huge fire brand. Oh, fy, saith pris’ner, what a wicked fib. ’Twas but the paper of a discharg’d squib. Pris’ner, your age? exclaim’d the learned bear, While down his little face would steal a tear. The truth, come tell me, or I’ll commit you straight; I am, saith pris’ner, somewhat turn’d of eight. The monster roared, with truly savage grin, Discharge the brat, and bring another in. THE DEATH. Alas, alas! poor lifeless Rowles, It grieves me to relate— Thy fam’ly lost its dearest friend By thy untimely fate. May Providence then guide the law, Thy slaughter be avenged; And may the halter catch the right, For equity’s just end. Oh, may thy widow find support, Thy family to rear: And may she live to bring them up, The living God to fear.