Though Duck and Peas may fail, alas! One's hunger to allay; At least for luncheon they may pass, The appetite to stay, If seasoned Duck an odor bring From which one would abstain, The Peas, like fragrant breath of Spring, Set all to rights again. I give thee all my kitchen lore, Though poor the offering be; I'll tell thee how 'tis cook'd, before You come to dine with me: The Duck is truss'd from head to heels, Then stew'd with butter well; And streaky bacon, which reveals A most delicious smell When Duck and Bacon in a mass You in the stew-pan lay, A spoon around the vessel pass, And gently stir away: A table-spoon of flour bring, A quart of water bring, Then in it twenty onions fling, And gently stir again. A bunch of parsley, and a leaf Of ever-verdant bay, Two cloves--I make my language brief-- Then add your Peas you may! And let it simmer till it sings In a delicious strain, Then take your Duck, nor let the strings For trussing it remain. The parsley fail not to remove, Also the leaf of bay; Dish up your Duck--the sauce improve In the accustom'd way, With pepper, salt, and other things, I need not here explain: And, if the dish contentment brings, You'll dine with me again. CURRY. Three pounds of veal my darling girl prepares, And chops it nicely into little squares; Five onions next prepares the little minx (The biggest are the best her Samiwel thinks). And Epping butter, nearly half a pound, And stews them in a pan until they're brown'd. What's next my dexterous little girl will do? She pops the meat into the savory stew, With curry powder, table-spoonfulls three, And milk a pint (the richest that may be); And, when the dish has stewed for half-an-hour, A lemon's ready juice she'll o'er it pour: Then, bless her! then she gives the luscious pot A very gentle boil--and serves quite hot. P.S. Beef, mutton, rabbit, if you wish; Lobsters, or prawns, or any kind of fish Are fit to make A CURRY. 'Tis, when done, A dish for emperors to feed upon. THE RAILWAY GILPIN. PUNCH. JOHN GILPIN is a citizen; For lineage of renown, The famed JOHN GILPIN'S grandson, he Abides in London town. To our JOHN GILPIN said his dear, "Stewed up here as we've been Since Whitsuntide, 'tis time that we Should have a change of scene. "To-morrew is a leisure day, And we'll by rail repair Unto the Nell at Dedmanton, And take a breath of air. "My sister takes our eldest child; The youngest of our three Will go in arms, and so the ride Won't so expensive be." JOHN soon replied, "I don't admire That railway, I, for one; But you know best, my dearest dear And so it must be done. "I, as a linen-draper bold, Will bear myself, and though 'Tis Friday by the calendar, Will risk my limbs, and go." Quoth MISTRESS GILPIN, "Nicely said: And then, besides, look here, We'll go by the Excursion Train, Which makes it still less dear."