This amusing parody originally appeared in _Funny Folks_, March 6, 1875, accompanied by a portrait of Dr. E. V. Kenealy. This was immediately after his election as member for Stoke, and the week after it appeared the clever but eccentric advocate of the “unfortunate nobleman” inserted the parody in his newspaper, _The Englishman_, with a compliment to its author, and it was re-copied in many other newspapers. The author, Mr. Joseph Verey, a well-known contributor to dramatic and humorous periodicals, has written many other clever parodies, amongst them being “Mariana at the Railway Station,” inserted on page 4, Volume I.; and “The Night Policeman,” after Longfellow, inserted on page 68, Volume I. of this collection. ―――――――― “THE RAVEN.” (_After Edgar Allan Poe._) Late at midnight I was seated, and my brain was overheated With reflections quaint and curious as I thought my subject o’er; While I pondered, almost napping, suddenly there came a tapping As of someone softly rapping, rapping at the parlour door, And my heart it fairly fluttered, hearing at the parlour-door, Just a tap, and nothing more. Yes! distinctly I remember how I trembled in each member, Thought I saw in every ember ghastly forms of one or more; Goblins came before my vision, grinning wildly with derision, There I sat as though in prison, prison closed by parlour-door, Icy chill came creeping o’er me whilst I gazed upon the door, Getting frightened more and more. And the windy gusts uncertain through the window shook the curtain, Thrilled me, filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before. Then methought perhaps the rapping might be but the servant tapping That awoke me from my napping, she might then be at the door, Bringing me the nightly candle, candlestick with broken handle, As she’d often done before. Then my soul grew strong in valour, and my cheeks lost all their pallor, “Maid,” said I, “or Mary, just you place the candle at the door, Pond’ring was I, almost napping, when you came so gently tapping, And you came so softly rapping, rapping at the parlour-door; Mary, scarcely could I hear you,” then I went unto the door―― Darkness there, and nothing more! Scarcely had I got me seated, feeling still all over-heated, When again I heard the rapping louder than it was before, “Bless me!” said I, “This again, something’s at the window-pane, Now some knowledge I’ll obtain of this strange mysterious bore; Courage, heart! a single moment, while this mystery I explore. ’Tis the wind, and nothing more!”