Whose shadow is it makes the highway darker? That bullet head! those ears! it is----JACK PARKER! [_Chord. The Chorus flee in dismay, as_ JACK _enters with a reckless swagger_. _Song_--JACK PARKER. I'm loafing about, and I very much doubt if my excellent Ma is aware that I'm out; My time I employ in attempts to annoy, and I'm not what you'd call an agreeable boy! I shoe the cats with walnut-shells; Tin cans to curs I tie; Ring furious knells at front-door bells-- Then round the corner fly! 'Neath donkeys' tails I fasten furze, Or timid horsemen scare; If chance occurs, I stock with burrs My little Sister's hair! [_The Bull shakes his head reprovingly._ Such tricks give me joy without any alloy,-- but they do not denote an agreeable boy! [_As_ JACK PARKER _concludes, the Bull ducks cautiously below the half-door, while_ LYDIA _conceals herself behind the pump_, L.C. _Jack (wandering about Stage, discontentedly)._ I thought at least there'd be some beasts to badger here! Call this a farm--there ain't a blooming spadger here! [_Approaches stall--Bull raises head suddenly._ A bull! This is a lark I've long awaited! He's in a stable, so he should be baited. [_The Bull shows symptoms of acute depression at this jeu de mot_; LYDIA _comes forward indignantly_. _Lydia._ I _can't_ stand by and see that poor bull suffer! Excitement's sure to make his beef taste tougher! [_The Bull emphatically corroborates this statement._ Be warned by Miss JANE TAYLOR; fractured skulls Invariably come from teasing bulls! So let that door alone, nor lift the latchet; For if the bull gets out--why, then you'll catch it! _Jack._ A fractured skull? Yah, don't believe a word of it! [_Raises latchet: chord; Bull comes slowly out, and crouches ominously._ JACK _retreats and takes refuge on top of pump; the Bull, after scratching his back with his off foreleg, makes a sudden dash at_ LYDIA. _Lydia (as she evades it)_, Here, help!--it's chasing. Me!--it's too absurd of it. [_The Bull intimates that he is acting from a deep sense of duty._ _Lydia (impatiently)._ You stupid thing, you're ruining the moral! [_The Bull persists obstinately in his pursuit._ _Jack (from top of pump)._ Well dodged, Miss BANKS! although the Bull I'll back! [_Enter Farm-hands_. _Lydia._ Come quick--this Bull's mistaking me for JACK! _Jack._ He knows his business best, I shouldn't wonder. _Farm-hands (philosophically)._ He ain't the sort o' Bull to make a blunder. [_They look on._ _Lydia (panting)._ Such violent exercise will soon exhaust me! [_The Bull comes behind her._ Oh, Bull, it is unkind of you ... you've _tossed_ me! [_Falls on ground, while the Bull stands over her, in readiness to give the coup de grace_; LYDIA _calls for help_.