From _Medley_; by Cuthbert Bede, author of _Verdant Green_. London: J. Blackwood. ―――― HOME RULE ALL ROUND. The question for the country now is no mere choice of Ministers, ’Twixt Liberals and Conservatives, the Dexters ’gainst the Sinisters, A party warfare waging, with designs and dodges tactical. Within the sphere of Politics, which common minds call practical. Bow-wow-wow, &c. Home Rule’s at most a moiety of a measure far more national, The uppermost in every mind that’s sensible and rational A measure to eradicate the vice of inebriety, By interdicting liquors to all classes of Society. Bow-wow-wow, &c. Needs must Home Rule for Ireland be domestic legislation, Laid down on Father Mathew’s lines to pacify the nation; ’Twould Irishmen from whiskey wean, on thin drink strictly diet ’em, And let them have no more potheen! which possibly might quiet ’em. Bow-wow-wow, &c. Electors, in this crisis you’ve a splendid opportunity, For the only Cause of consequence to all of the community. Vote for no candidate, whose line in politics a fad I call; But poll for the Teetotaller, Conservative or Radical. Bow-wow-wow, &c. Home Rule the United Kingdom craves, that claim of its Alliance is The only thing to care about――therein our sole affiance is. None other do we want to press on Parliament’s adoption Home Rule for every parish, Universal Local Option. Bow-wow-wow, &c. _Punch._ July 10, 1886. ―――― THE G.O.M. FOX. I sing about a Grand Old Man, whom everybody knows, sir, Who once disjoined the Emerald Isle from us, her “foreign” foes, sir; That is, I mean, he would have given her “National” authority, But for the fact that he for once was not with the majority. Bow, wow, wow! What’s the good of balking when it’s all done now? He summoned all the Cabinet, and there in consultation, His colleagues helped him form the bill to bring before the nation; That is, he might have sought their aid, for most of them are ’cute, sir, Had he not planned and settled all himself to save dispute, sir. Bow, wow, wow, &c. Then fifty million pounds he raised to buy the landlords out, sir, And England――it is she who pays――there’s not the slightest doubt, sir; That is, we should have had to pay the bill if nothing stopped it, But, fortunately just in time, the Grand Old Man he dropped it. Bow, wow, wow, &c.