We must admit, though, that his speeches have great weight, We’ve found it hard to bear them oft of late; And also that his arguments are quite profound For not a bit can anybody see the ground. “Some say his wit’s refined, thus is explained The seeming mystery—his wit is strained— No wonder, therefore, the debate falls dead Beneath such close and constant fire of lead.” I will not occupy the meeting very long, I wish to ask one question,—Am I right or wrong? Each gentleman _exposed_ the faults he had been chiding, Would it not be better, Sir, to give those faults a _hiding_? I think we have been nibbling at our subject all the night Instead of saying all we ought to say outright. I say, Let every boy and girl throughout the land On radical reform come boldly out and stand; Fight against wrong in every shape and dress, Gain for our slighted cause a sound redress; Be manly, womanly, in everything they do, And keep the true and blessed ends of life in view; Succour the weak, be kind to foe and friend, Tell old men it is not too late to mend; Take children tempted into wrong and sin, And seek for better ends their hearts to win; And show through life’s dull day, and cloud, and storm, The peace and shelter found beneath Reform! (_Loud cheers_) The Speaker vacates the chair and comes to the front of the platform— MR. MERRY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, it is proposed that we should now go into a Committee of the whole house. You’ve listened patiently to all that has been spoken— You listen still, and so we take it as a token That you approve the measures that we think are needed, And which, we fear, by many folks are scarcely heeded; So, you who would enroll yourselves beneath our banner, Will signify it in the usual manner. The Government and the Opposition, everybody in the room, and the servants who were crowding round the door, held up their hands immediately, and the Bill was carried amid such enthusiasm as is rarely seen even in the House. And as the speakers came down from the platform, headed by Tom Martin, who played “We won’t go home till morning,” (no doubt under the impression that that best expressed the habits of Members of Parliament,) they were cheered all the way to the refreshment room, where they amicably settled their political differences over lemonade and sherry. * * * * * How fast time flies when the evening is being merrily spent! Who would have thought it was supper-time already? But so it was, and the lads and lasses were fast pairing off for that event, when a loud rat-tat was heard at the door. “What, fresh arrivals at this time of night!” said one or two. “I wonder who it can be!” “It is a surprise of some sort or other,” said Ada Martin; “I am quite sure it is. I can tell it by the twinkle in Mr. Merry’s eye.”