Above the people rose its piers, Their shadows on the waters fell; Year after year, for many years, All unapproachable! And filmy wires through æther spread, From such proud piers' unfinished head, Kept up a mild communication, Worthy of their exalted station; And many gazers far below, Wafted by the waveless tide, Which 'neath those slender wires did flow, Upturned their eyes, and sighed-- "If that _air_ bridge," they whispered low, "Vos broad enough to let us pass, Ve'd not av so much round to go, As now ve av--alas!" * * * * * _Punch_, 1844. * * * * * THE M.P. ON THE RAILWAY COMMITTEE. (_Dedicated to Alfred Tennyson_). With shareholders in anxious lots, The rooms were crowded, one and all, The Barristers stood round in knots,-- And quite forsook Westminster Hall. Sections and plans looked odd and strange; And the M.P. at each new batch, Weary and worn, looked at his watch, In hopes the Counsel to derange. He only said, "It's very dreary: He'll never stop!" he said; He said, "I'm a-weary--a-weary, I would I were in bed!" The speech began before eleven, And might go on till eventide; He must be in the House at seven, Upon a motion to divide. The Barristers in white cravats Unto each other gave the lie; The M.P. sadly shut his eye And thought of the Kilkenny cats. He only said, "It's very dreary, They'll never stop!" he said; He said, "I'm a-weary--a-weary, And must not go to bed." Until the middle of the night, He'd heard the Irish Members crow; The House broke up in broad daylight, Heavily he to bed did go, In hopes to sleep; but without change, In dreams, he seemed to hear, forlorn, The Barrister he'd heard that morn; And saw, in slumber, sections strange. He sighed, and said, "'Tis very dreary; I cannot sleep!" he said; He said, "I am a-weary--a-weary, Both in and out of bed." * * * * * The hot sun beating on the roof, The slow clock ticking, and the sound Which in opposing lines' behoof The counsel made,--did all confound His sense: then longed he for the hour When their report they came to lay Before the Commons; and the day On which he'd 'scape SIR ROBERT'S power, Then said he, "This is far too dreary: I will retire," he said; He sighed, "I am so weary--a-weary, I'll go to Jail instead." _Punch_, 1845. * * * * * CIRCUMSTANCE.