And whether she was right or wrong, She showed a dauntless will, A firm resolve, a purpose strong, Which move me like a battle-song And make my bosom thrill! The fame and name shall never fade Of Sarah Owen, sewing-maid! THE LAST HORSED 'BUS Fare thee well, thou plum-faced driver, Poised upon thine airy seat! Final, ultimate survivor Of an order obsolete! Fare thee well! Thy days are numbered. Long, full long, by weight encumbered, Tardily thy team hath lumbered Down each London Street, Passed by carts, bath-chairs, and hearses, And the cause of constant curses! Fare thee well, conductor sprightly, Gay and buoyant pachyderm, Holding up thy 'bus politely For each passenger infirm; Yet, when roused to indignation By a rival's reprobation, How adroit in the creation Of some caustic term! Deft to ridicule or rally, Swift with satire as with sally! Ancient Omnibus ungainly, We shall miss thee, day by day, When thy swift successors vainly We with signals would delay; When upon their platforms perching, With each oscillation lurching, We are perilously searching For the safest way To alight without disaster, While we speed each moment faster! As our means of locomotion, Year by year, more deadly grow, We shall think with fond devotion Of thy stately gait and slow. Harassed, vexed, fatigued, and flurried, Shaken, discomposed, and worried, As in motors we are hurried Wildly to and fro, We perchance shall not disparage Horse-drawn omnibus or carriage! STAGE SUPPORT [The prospective Unionist candidate for Hoxton, at his first meeting, was supported by Lord Shrewsbury, the Hon. Claude Hay, and Mr. George Robey.] When I stand as 'Independent' next election, I shall vanquish my opponents, Smith and Brown. (Smith's a Unionist, in favour of Protection, Brown's a Radical Free Trader of renown.) But my triumph at the polls I shall attribute, I confess, To the men of light and leading whose assistance spelt success. Smith may marshal Austen Chamberlains and Carsons On his platform, for the populace to view; Brown may muster all his Nonconformist parsons, And a member of the Cabinet or two; I shall need no brilliant orators, no Ministers of State, If I only can rely on the support of Harry Tate! [Illustration] Brown has posters: 'Vote for Brown and Old Age Pensions!' Smith has placards: 'Vote for Smith and Work for All!' I shall calmly call constituents' attentions To the pet of ev'ry London music hall, When I publish, as his message, on each flaming window-card: 'Every Vote you give to Johnson is a vote for Wilkie Bard!'