THE father to discover next they tried; How could he enter, pass, escape, or hide; The walls were high; the grate was double too; Quite small the turning-box appeared to view, And she who managed it was very old:-- Perhaps some youthful spark has been so bold, Cried she who was superior to the rest, To get admitted, like a maiden dressed, And 'mong our flock (if rightly I surmise) A wicked wolf is lurking in disguise. Undress, I say, I'll verify the fact; No other way remains for me to act. THE lad disguised was terrified to death; Each plan was dissipated with a breath; The more he thought of means from thence to get, The greater were the obstacles he met. At length NECESSITY (the parent found Of stratagems and wiles, so much renowned,) Induced the youth . . . (I scarcely can proceed) To tie . . . expression here I clearly need; What word will decently express the thought? What book has got it?--where should it be sought? You've heard, in days of yore that human kind, With windows in their bosoms were designed, Through which 'twas easy all within to see, And suited those of medical degree. BUT if these windows useful were believed; 'Twas inconvenient in the heart perceived, And women thoroughly disliked the scheme:-- They could not find the means to hide a dream. Dame Nature howsoe'er contrived a plan:-- One lace she gave the woman, one the man, Of equal length, and each enough no doubt, By proper care to shut the ope throughout. The woman much too thick her eyelets placed; And consequently, ne'er was closely laced; The fault was all her own: herself the cause; The man as little merited applause, For coarsely working, soon the hole was shut, From which the remnant lace was left to jut; In fact, on either side, whate'er was done, The laces never equally would run, And we are told, both sexes acted wrong: The woman's was too short; the man's too long.