Two eyes, both black and swollen When next we met he wore, The expression of his features, Was less pleasant than before; And standing close beside was one, Who strove with might and main To make them still less beauteous, Nor did he strive in vain. I saw him but a moment, Yet methinks I see him now, As he diligently sought a tooth, He’d swallowed in the row. And once again I saw that man, No joy at all was his; For many knocks had quite effaced Expression from his “phiz.” He wept as weeps a boy at school When beaten in the rear, Nor did he bless his second, Who sponged away the tear. I saw him but a moment, Yet methinks I see him now, As his length on earth he measured, Less eager for the row. From _The Corkscrew Papers_. London: W. H. Guest, Paternoster Row. 1876. ―――― THE GRAVEL RASH. He rode a tandem trycycle The day when first we met, He wore a pair of spectacles, Perhaps he has them yet! I saw him but a moment, But methinks I see him now With the same old cap upon his head And frown upon his brow. His face looked white as driven snow Against his bags of blue, His pedalling was marvellous As round the track he flew. I saw him but a moment, But methinks I see him now, Lying whole length o’er the track, And the frown still on his brow. The last I heard of that young man, Was through the weekly WHEELING; “Whee-ling”-er o’er those words of his So full of kindly feeling. I saw them but a moment, But methinks I see them now With the author bending o’er them, And that frown yet on his brow. MORAL. When people speak of others’ faults, It’s time they knew their own, So take a lesson, dear young man, And try ye to atone. _Wheeling Annual_, 1885. ―――― “I SAW HER BUT A MOMENT.” “The trains to Notting Hill run every half-hour.” _Information given by Company._ “Do they? Ha! ha!” _Remark by one who had tried them._ I saw her but a moment, Yet, methinks, I see her still―― ’Twas at Victoria Station, And she wanted “Notting Hill.” Comes a “Notting Hill Gate” quickly―― Comes one more, then one more still; But they suit not our poor maiden, For she wants a “Notting Hill.” That face, so wan and weary, Was sure enough to fill With pity, heart of marble, In this case of Notting Hill. I saw her but a moment, Yet, perhaps, she’s waiting still―― Or, better still, has given up All hopes of “Notting Hill.” ―――― BUT A MOMENT.