Erin, my country! you’ll soon be forsaken By all the respectable landlords of yore; Then will those rascally tenants awaken, With their nose to some grindstone they knew not before. Oh, cruel fate, could you ever replace me In my seat in the House, where no bagman could chase me; I’d vote for Coercion――though Healy should face me―― And prove my relations were hanged by the score! Where is my hunting lodge, deep in the wild wood (Hounds that are poisoned can’t answer the call), Where are the tenants I bullied since childhood? And where are my rack-rents? They’re gone to the wall. Ah, my sad pocket ’tis easy to measure, Land Leagues and lawsuits exhausted your treasure, Fifty per cent. I’d abate now with pleasure But the devil a ha’penny they’ll give me at all! New Year is here now, and creditors pressing, One dying wish! ere I’m forced to withdraw Davitt! a landlord bequeaths thee his blessing, (’Tis all that you’ve left him in Erin-go-Bragh). And (in my shirt-sleeves across the broad ocean) I’ll pray for Parnell who put voters in motion, And filled their thick heads with this new-fangled notion That leaves them the masters of Erin-go-Bragh. M. O’BRIEN. From _The Irish Fireside_, February 6, 1886. ――――:o:―――― THE ESCAPE OF THE ALDERMEN. (_After The Battle of the Baltic._) Sing the adventure rare Of those worthies of renown, The Right Honourable LORD MAYOR Of great London’s famous town, And the Sheriffs, and the Aldermen, at large On diversion they were bent, And on junketting intent; So they up the river went In their barge. Like porpoises afloat Roll’d their Worships in their craft, In that truly jolly boat It was merry fore and aft: The thirtieth of September was the day, They were sitting at dessert, With their waistcoats all ungirt, So extremely full of tur- -tle were they. MICHAEL GIBBS was in his chair, In his chair of civic state; And the Sheriffs near him were,―― The elect as well as late; And the Aldermen the board were sitting round, As they drifted up the tide, In their cabin big and wide, Each took care of his inside, I’ll be bound.