The flowers that bloom in the spring, Tra la, Breathe promise of merry Sunlight―― As we merrily dance and we sing, Tra la, We welcome the hope that they bring, Tra la, Of a summer of roses so bright; And that’s what we mean when we say that a thing Is welcome as flowers that bloom in the spring. Tra la la la la la, &c. Lever’s Sunlight Soap’s a thing, Tra la, That brings sunshine wherever it goes If you ask us to which we should cling, Tra la, It won’t be the flowers of spring, Tra la, For they’re useless for washing of clothes; And that’s what we mean when we say, or we sing, “It’s better than flowers that bloom in the spring!” Tra la la la la la, &c. A PATHETIC BALLAD. In a cot by a river a lady forlorn Sang “willow, titwillow, titwillow!” And I said to her, “pretty one, why do you mourn, Singing ‘willow, titwillow, titwillow?’ Your love will return ere the sun will have set, Your honeymoon scarce is completed, and yet With a shake of your head you reply in a pet, “Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow!” But alas! she had wedded for love, not for pelf, Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow! So she had to get through all the washing herself, Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow! She sobbed and she sighed, and a gurgle she gave, Then she threw herself into the billowy wave, And an echo arose from the suicide’s grave―― “Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow!” Now I feel just as sure as I’m sure that my name Isn’t willow, titwillow, titwillow, ’Twas inferior soap that thus made her exclaim, “Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow!” If Lever’s Sunlight Soap she’d happened to buy, Her work had been done without trouble, and I Should never have heard that most desolate cry―― “Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow!” ――――:o:―――― RUDDIGORE; OR, THE WITCH’S CURSE. This opera, produced at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday, January 22, 1887, did not at first receive that approval which the Press and the public have hitherto accorded to Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan’s pieces. Objection was taken to the title, and in deference to public opinion the first word was altered from _Ruddygore_ to _Ruddigore_, whilst several passages which occur in the published version of the libretto are either altered, or omitted, in representation, and generally the piece runs more smoothly than it did when first produced.