This Parody appeared in _Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine_ for November, 1820. Many other excellent parodies and imitations are to be found in the early volumes of Blackwood, (which first appeared in April, 1817) but unfortunately most of them are quite out of date, and would be of little, or no interest to the modern reader. ―――― SONGS OF THE RAIL. O young William Jones is come out of the West, Of all the bright engines, his engine’s the best! And save his grim stoker, he helper had none, He drove all unhelp’d, and he drove all alone, So dauntless he rush’d midst his engine’s loud moans; Did you e’er hear of driver like young WILLIAM JONES? He stopp’d not for water, he stopp’d not for coke, And he skimm’d o’er the streams render’d black by his smoke; But when at the station he slacken’d his rate, The up-train had started, the down-train came late; And a laggard in travel, a luggage-train guard, Was to wed the fair POLLY of JONES’S regard. “I long woo’d your daughter, my suit you denied; Love swells like a steam-valve, and bursts when it’s tied; And now I am come, with my lost POLLY B. To walk once the platform, drink one cup of tea: There are maidens who’d gladly give body and bones, To jump at the tender of young WILLIAM JONES.” The bride stirred the Congou, the spoon took it up, He quaff’d off the tea, and he put down the cup; She stoop’d on the pavement her sandal to tie, And she show’d her neat foot with a tear in her eye: He took her soft hand, ere her mother said nay; “Now walk on the platform,” said young WILLIAM J. So stately his form, and so beauteous her face, That never a plank such a couple did grace; While the stoker did fret; and the engine did fume, And the station-clerk wink’d in his little back-room, And the navvys all whisper’d, “Ay, BILL, what d’ye say? They’d make a neat couple, that gal and young J.” One touch of her hand, and one word in her ear, And they open’d a carriage that by them stood near; So light o’er the cushions the fair lady sprung―― So light the policeman the bright brass bell rung―― “She is won! we are off! there’s no train in the way, And the next does not stop here” said young WILLIAM J. There was laughing and roaring with every man; They laugh’d and they roar’d till their eyes briny ran: They must get a new maiden to hand out the tea, For the fair MRS. JONES there they never will see; And each one that knows her will laughingly say, “That’s a deucid ’cute fellow, that young WILLIAM J.!” _Punch_, January 22, 1848. ―――― THE RUSSIAN LOCHINVAR.