“We hope,” they said with glistening eye, “You’ll still allow us to supply All articles you want; we’ll try To please you, sir, in every way.” Oh! rare and comic was the fun To see each humbly cringing dun, The oily and the sugary one, All full of meek apology. I paid their bills upon the spot, And the receipts from each I got, And then I looked at all the lot, As they stood bowing smilingly. “Get out each fawning drivelling knave,” I shouted out with features grave; My hand towards the door I wave, And clench it simultaneously. I heard the sound of hurrying feet Haste down the stairs and up the street, And then in fits of laughter sweet, I went off unrestrainedly. From _Lays of Modern Oxford_, by Adon. Chapman and Hall, London, 1874. ―――― HO! IN PRINCE’S. At Prince’s when the sun is low, See all the fashion skating go, And bright and brilliant is the flow, Of ladies rinking rapidly. Ah! Prince’s is a splendid sight, From break of day till fall of night, For all combine to render bright, The dull surrounding scenery. In gorgeous dresses see arrayed, The haughty dame, the tender maid, Who join, with not a thought dismayed, The fascinating revelry. From morn till eve a throng is found, Of rapid rinkers rolling round, Amid the light and joyous sound Of music’s varied melody. Then on, ye fair ones, one by one, Who rink for fashion, or for fun, From early morn till setting sun You’ll always meet with chivalry. And if, perchance at fearful pace, You charge another face to face, Then cry, when in that close embrace, “’Tis I, Sir, rinking rapidly,” Few will forget the hours sweet, They spent with skates upon their feet, Nor friends that they were wont to meet At Prince’s, rinking rapidly. From _Idyls of the Rink_. London: Judd & Co., 1876. ―――― THE TAY BRIDGE DISASTER. That fatal eve, as darkness died, It spann’d the Firth in conscious pride, And far beneath it rolled the tide Of Tay, lamenting sullenly. But later met that bridge its doom, When fiery showers pierced the gloom, To light to their tempestuous tomb, A wild despairing company. Struck midway by the raging blast, The girders crash’d and crumbled fast, And down that living freight was cast Into a sea of agony. Lost was the falling metals roar Amid the elemental war, And fast the flaming sparks flew o’er The chasm’s dense obscurity.