Yet, while that gushing torrent ran, I made a solemn private vow That, though no ardent partisan, Those Ministers I'll vote for now Who'll introduce a drastic bill To bring about her abolition, To banish utterly, or kill The modern lady-politician! * * * * * THE OYSTER AND THE SPARROW. _A Pessimistic Tale._ At Whitstable one summer day, An oyster gave his fancy wings; He very indolently lay In bed, and thought of many things; Of what his life had been; of weeks All spent in having forty winks-- You know an oyster never speaks, But lies awake in bed, and thinks. He thought, with pardonable pride, That he had never worked--a plan Which showed, it cannot be denied, That he was quite a gentleman. He lived more calmly in his sea Than any Bishop; never crossed In any sort of wishes, he Had never loved, and never lost. No cruel maid had ever spurned His heart, such grief no oyster knows; Nor hatred ever in him burned Against the rival whom she chose. [Illustration] Yet, when considered, all appeared Too softly calm, too free from strife; He thought, and, sighing, stroked his beard, "There does not seem much use in life." By chance, upon this very day A London sparrow, for a minute, Was thinking somewhat in this way Of life, and what the deuce was in it, And how he fluttered up and down, Like Berthas, Doras, Trunks, or Yankees-- His nest was far above the town, Upon the buildings known as Hankey's. He thought, with pardonable pride, Unlike a pampered, gay canary, He worked--it cannot be denied That "_Laborare est orare_." He worked with all his might and main, Yet now he chirped with some misgiving, "Shoot me if I know what I gain, There does not seem much use in living." Soon after this the bird and fish Were slain by old, relentless foes, When death was near, each seemed to wish! To keep his life--why, no one knows. The bird was knocked upon the head-- A crack no gluing could repair; The oyster rudely dragged from bed, Died from exposure to the air. They helped in one great work, at least, To make some greedy beings fat; The oyster graced a City feast, The bird was eaten by the cat. [Illustration] Thus, though they led such different lives, One fat from sloth, from work one thinner, Their end was that for which man strives, And mostly ends his days with--dinner! * * * * * VERSES TO THE WEATHER MAIDEN.