Scarce the words my tongue had spoken, scarce the silence I had broken, Thro’ the window stepped a raven like to Ingoldsby’s of yore, Notice took he of me never, off he hopped and looked so clever, Flight he took with bold endeavour, perching o’er my parlour door, From his perch he eyed me closely, watched me from the parlour-door, Sat and looked――did nothing more! Cunning looked he, as though chaffing――funny bird! he set me laughing, Perched aloft, and looking grave, with both his eyes upon the floor:―― “Ebony friend, with head all shaven, surely thou canst be no craven, Out so late, you funny raven, tell me what misfortune bore Thee unto my humble roof, and to sit above my door.” Quoth the raven, “Say no more!” “Tell me, raven, what has brought you, how it is that you’ve bethought you Here to fly in midnight darkness, coming hither to explore. Hast thou good or evil omen to pronounce to men or _wo_men, Which thou wilt reveal to no men――speak the message, I implore.” Then he ruffled all his feathers, speaking from the parlour-door, Said he, “Think the matter o’er.” There he was with mien so stately, looking solemn and sedately. Like a monk he was “complately,” thinking something deeply o’er, All at once his wings he fluttered, and in tone sepulchral muttered Something indistinctly uttered, as it came from o’er the door; Most intently did I listen, listened as I ne’er before To a raven o’er a door. ――At the Prince’s Pierhead, said he, there you’ll find a policeman steady, Strutting proudly ever ready to annoy the cabmen there, With the Jehus roughly dealing, causing them a bitter feeling, Vain it is the men appealing, one and all they now declare Pierhead rank they’ll never stand in, never ply for landing “fare” Whilst that “bobby’s” stationed there! At the Town Hall banquet lately, was a Colonel bold and stately, Full of pomp he was “complately,” sitting rigid in his chair. When the Army’s health was toasted, up he rose and proudly boasted, Whilst with with’ring tongue he “roasted” Captain Douglas sitting there, That the Naval forces never, whilst he sat upon that chair With the Army must compare! When the Colonel Yates, conceited, had his fulsome speech completed, And upon his chair was seated,――Colonel Steble, gallant “Maire,” Said with gracious tone and manly, how the noble House of Stanley Oft in former times like him had sat upon the civic chair; Then the noble Earl, replying, said with truth he might declare “Such an honour now was rare!”