With promises stuffed, and with hope inspired, HODGE walked, and walked till he felt quite tired; So he sat himself down on the bank of a stream, And, falling asleep, dreamed a wonderful dream. Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. The old, old stream was no longer the brook Where he'd angled for minnows with worm and hook; It swelled and swirled, and its rippling voice Was changed to loud echoes of platform noise. Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. And it seemed to address him, "How long, friend HODGE, In a smock you will slave, in a pig-stye lodge? The Town revolts, but the landlord crew Still rule the rustics. What can you do?" Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. "Oh, I can reap, and I can sow; And I can plough, and I can mow; And, as Lord RIPON doth treuly say, _I can yarn my eighteen-pence a day_!" Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. "Oh, that," cried the Voices, "will never do! HODGE now must have freedom, and comfort too, And Village Councils, Allotments, and Larks! Though the Landlords take fright for their Manors and Parks," Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. "No more must he live like a pig in a stye, Or _we_ (Tory _Codlir_, Rad _Short_) will know why. And if you'll consent just to vote for _us_ now, We'll put a new tune to your old 'Speed the Plough!'" Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. Then HODGE, slightly puzzled, beheld (in his dream) A legion of faces that flowed with the stream. "There's two WILLIAMS, and JOEY, and JESSE!" he cried, "SOLLY, BALFY, and JOKIM talk, too, from the tide,--" Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. "They're making a vast sight o' noise, and I fear, Whilst they all shout together, their _meaning's_ scarce clear. They all drift one way, though, out yonder I'll sit! And wait till the shindying slackens a bit." Singing dumbledumdeary, &c. So HODGE, like old HORACE's Rustic, still waits Till the waters flow by, or their turmoil abates; And then hopes to reach "Happy Home" o'er that stream. Let _us_ hope that he mayn't find it _only_ a dream! Singing dumbledumdeary, dumbledumdeary, Dumble, dumble, dumbledumdee! * * * * * [Illustration: THE TRIALS OF AN ANXIOUS "JUNIOR." PROMPTING A DEAF AND TESTY "CHIEF" IN OPEN COURT IS NOT HIS IDEA OF PERFECT BLISS.] * * * * * "DICK" POWER.