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In Merry Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

Mood

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,

Turning a little blue.

"After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!"

"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice.

I wish you were not quite so deaf—
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."

With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,

Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

66

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,

"You've had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?"

But answer came there none

And this was scarcely odd, because

They'd eaten every one.

LEWIS CARroll.

Song of the Turtle and Flamingo

A lively young turtle lived down by the banks
Of a dark rolling stream called the Jingo,
And one summer day, as he went out to play,
Fell in love with a charming flamingo-
An enormously genteel flamingo!

An expansively crimson flamingo!

A beautiful, bouncing flamingo!

Spake the turtle in tones like a delicate wheeze: "To the water I've oft seen you in go,

And your form has impressed itself deep on my shell,

You perfectly modeled flamingo!

You tremendously 'A1' flamingo!

You inex-pres-si-ble flamingo!

To be sure I'm a turtle, and you are a belle,
And my language is not your fine lingo;

In Merry

Mood

In Merry But smile on me, tall one, and be my bright flame, Mood You miraculous, wondrous flamingo!

You blazingly beauteous flamingo!

You turtle-absorbing flamingo!

You inflammably gorgeous flamingo!"

Then the proud bird blushed redder than ever before,

And that was quite un-nec-ces-sa-ry,

And she stood on one leg and looked out of one

eye,

The position of things for to vary,—

This aquatical, musing flamingo!

This dreamy, uncertain flamingo!

This embarrassing, harassing flamingo!

Then she cried to the quadruped, greatly amazed:

66

Why your passion toward me do you hurtle?

I'm an ornithological wonder of grace,

And you're an illogical turtle,—

A waddling, impossible turtle!

A low-minded, grass-eating turtle!

A highly improbable turtle!"

Then the turtle sneaked off with his nose to the

ground,

And never more looked at the lasses;

And falling asleep, while indulging his grief,

Was gobbled up whole by Agassiz,

The peripatetic Agassiz!

The turtle-dissecting Agassiz!

The illustrious, industrious Agassiz!

Go with me to Cambridge some cool, pleasant day,
And the skeleton lover I'll show you:

He's in a hard case, but he'll look in your face,
Pretending (the rogue!) he don't know you!
Oh, the deeply deceptive young turtle!
The double-faced, glassy-cased turtle!
The green, but a very mock-turtle!"

JAMES T. FIELDS.

In Merry
Mood

Captain Reece

Of all the ships upon the blue,
No ship contained a better crew
Than that of worthy Captain Reece,
Commanding of The Mantelpiece.

He was adored by all his men,
For worthy Captain Reece, R. N.,
Did all that lay within him to
Promote the comfort of his crew.

If ever they were dull or sad,
Their captain danced to them like mad,
Or told, to make the time pass by,
Droll legends of his infancy.

A feather-bed had every man,
Warm slippers and hot-water can,

In Merry
Mood

Brown Windsor from the captain's store,
A valet, too, to every four.

Did they with thirst in summer burn,
Lo, seltzogenes at every turn,
And on all very sultry days

Cream ices handed round on trays.

Then currant wine and ginger-pops
Stood handily on all the "tops; "
And also, with amusement rife,
A "Zoetrope, or Wheel of Life."

New volumes came across the sea
From Mister Mudie's libraree;
The Times and Saturday Review
Beguiled the leisure of the crew.

Kind-hearted Captain Reece, R. N.,
Was quite devoted to his men ;
In point of fact, good Captain Reece
Beatified The Mantelpiece.

One summer eve, at half-past ten,
He said (addressing all his men):
“Come, tell me, please, what I can do
To please and gratify my crew.

"By any reasonable plan

I'll make you happy if I can;

My own convenience count as nil:

It is my duty, and I will."

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