Some rascal in the night had twigged, The coal-iron loose, which he had prigged, "If I'd a know'd a hole was there, I would o' coorse ha' took more care Cleaning your doorstep, Marm?" * * * * * YE MAYDEN AND YE EGGE. The shades of night were gone--at last, As, all agog to break her fast, A maiden sat, 'mid kith and kin, While bent, impatient to begin, _Egg-shell she o'er_. _Ye Paterfamilias._ His brow was staid; his eyes beneath Were closed. Not so his lips and teeth, Whence, like a copper clarion rung "Grace before meat." Still, listening, hung _Egg-shell she o'er_. _Hys remonstrance._ "Try not the egg!" the "old man" cried, "Dark lowers some prodigy inside! What if fowl play?"--no more he said, For her protecting fingers spread _Egg-shell she o'er_. _Ye Mayden_--_her Prayer._ "Stay, Pa!" the maiden said, "let's test Your query, ere upon this breast You anguish pile." Her moistening eye Here drooped, and struggled with a sigh, _Egg-shell she o'er_. _Ye Fynde._ At break of shell, as chickenward (For aught she knew) her spoon she stirred, A something stubborn claimed a stare. "My brooch!" cried with a startled air, _Egg-shell she o'er_. _Ye Ende._ There in the middle--so they say-- Hard, but albuminous it lay. And, when she grew serener, far, Fished the thing up, with "dear old star!" _Egg-shell she o'er_. This ingenious but rather mad parody appeared in _The Figaro_ of May 6, 1876. THOSE HORRID SCHOOLS. I. The shades of night were falling fast, As through the quad a gownsman passed, Whose seedy look and sunken cheek Bespoke as plain as words could speak, "Those horrid schools!" II. His coat was worn; his bags beneath Were quite too short his legs to sheath, While like a penny trumpet rung The treble of that mournful tongue, "Those horrid schools!" III. In happy homes he left the light Of household fires both warm and bright; Before the spectral "Great Go" shone, And from his lips escaped a groan, "Those horrid schools!" IV. "Try but to pass," his tutor said, "A class is not within your head. The yawning gulf is deep and wide!" But still that treble voice replied, "Those horrid schools!" V. "Oh stay!" the maiden said, "and rest Thy learned head upon my breast!" A tear stood in his sunken eye, He blushed, and answered, looking shy, "Those horrid schools!" VI.