Said the second old man, “I beg your pardon! Brother, please forgive me, my words were hasty! I get your viewpoint, our hearts must harden! Try this ale, it is bitter, brown and tasty.” Said the first old man, “Hear me sobbing. “Poor little Nanny, she's gone to Himmel. Principle must conquer, though hearts be throbbing! Just curl your lip around this kimmel!” Down in a wine vault underneath the city They sat drinking while the snow was falling, Wicked old men with scarcely any pity-- The moral of my tale is quite appalling! X--ANACREON To Ned Ranck In the sunless land where thou art gone, The shadowy realm of Proserpine, Hast wine to drink, Anacreon? Still hast thy lute its laughing tone, Still do thy nymphs the ivy twine, In the sunless land where thou art gone? A Bacchus on a reeling throne, Thy temples bound with trailing vine, Hast wine to drink, Anacreon? From cool deep caves of delved stone, Do slaves still fetch thee Samian wine, In the sunless land where thou art gone? Or is a cup's mere semblance shown, Then snatched from those parch'd lips of thine?--- Hast wine to drink, Anacreon? Like Tantalus dost thou make moan, Plagued by a mockery malign? In the sunless land where thou art gone Hast wine to drink, Anacreon? XI--THERE WERE GIANTS IN THE OLD DAYS To George Van Slyke Gog was a giant, Likewise so was Magog;-- Gog says, “It's Christmas, Please pass the Egg-nog!” Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! Glug! Glug! Glug! Gog says to Magog, “It is full of Nutmeg,-- Guzzle! Guzzle! Guzzle! Glog! Glog! Glog!” Magog says to Gog, “Have some Haig and Haig!” Gargle! Gargle! Gargle! Grog! Grog! Grog!” Gog says to Magog, “Your eyes are all a-goggle! You are all agog!” Magog says to Gog, “Your feet wiggle-woggle, You're gigglish as a gargoyle And logey as a log!” Gog says to Magog, “I'm as gleg as a grig! Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! Glug! Glug! Glug!” Magog says to Gog, “I'm jolly as a polly-- Wiggle--waggle--wog That's turning to a froggle, A friggle--fraggle--frog! Guggle! Guggle! Guggle! Glog! Glog! Glog!” And Gog filled his noggin, And Magog his mug,-- Magog was a giant, Likewise so was Gog; On New Year's morning Both were on their legs, And sat down to breakfast And ordered ham and eggs! XII--IN AN OLD-TIME TAVERN BOOTH To Ben De Casseres