Part 19 (2/2)

”I said it in Hebrew--I said it in Dutch-- I said it in German and Greek; But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much) That English is what you speak!”

”The thing can be done,” said the Butcher, ”I think The thing must be done, I am sure.

The thing shall be done! Bring me paper and ink, The best there is time to procure.”

So engrossed was the Butcher, he heeded them not, As he wrote with a pen in each hand, And explained all the while in a popular style Which the Beaver could well understand.

”Taking Three as the subject to reason about-- A convenient number to state-- We add Seven and Ten and then multiply out By One Thousand diminished by Eight.”

”The result we proceed to divide, as you see, By Nine Hundred and Ninety and Two; Then subtract Seventeen, and the answer must be Exactly and perfectly true.”

”As to temper, the Jubjub's a desperate bird, Since it lives in perpetual pa.s.sion: Its taste in costume is entirely absurd-- It is ages ahead of the fas.h.i.+on.”

”Its flavor when cooked is more exquisite far Than mutton or oysters or eggs: (Some think it keeps best in an ivory jar, And some, in mahogany kegs.)”

”You boil it in sawdust; you salt it in glue: You condense it with locusts and tape; Still keeping one princ.i.p.al object in view-- To preserve its symmetrical shape.”

The Butcher would gladly have talked till next day, But he felt that the Lesson must end, And he wept with delight in attempting to say He considered the Beaver his friend.

_Lewis Carroll_.

_SYLVIE AND BRUNO_

He thought he saw a Banker's clerk Descending from the 'bus; He looked again, and found it was A Hippopotamus.

”If this should stay to dine,” he said, ”There won't be much for us!”

He thought he saw an Albatross That fluttered round the lamp: He looked again, and found it was A Penny-Postage-Stamp.

”You'd best be getting home,” he said; ”The nights are very damp!”

He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four That stood beside his bed: He looked again, and found it was A Bear without a Head.

”Poor thing,” he said, ”poor silly thing!

It's waiting to be fed!”

He thought he saw a Kangaroo That worked a coffee-mill: He looked again, and found it was A Vegetable-Pill.

”Were I to swallow this,” he said, ”I should be very ill!”

He thought he saw a Rattlesnake That questioned him in Greek: He looked again, and found it was The Middle of Next Week.

”The one thing I regret,” he said, ”Is that it cannot speak!”

_Lewis Carroll_.

GENTLE ALICE BROWN

It was a robber's daughter, and her name was Alice Brown.

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