Part 7 (1/2)

And when his ammunition's spent, The three are safe away,-- The Spaniards, crazed at their repulse, Rush in on brave Jose!

”Where, where,--and are the rebels fled, Are they escaped through _you_?”

They madly grasped the crippled boy, While flas.h.i.+ng swords they drew.

All honor be to Cuba's sons (But let this not suffice) Who perished on the field--there's, too, The cripple's sacrifice!

MR. BUSHEL'S HOSPITALITY

Four brothers by the name of Peck, (All Mr. Bushel's kin), As often as one desires it, Are taken by him in.

Eight sisters, the Misses Gallon, When the four Peck brothers are out, In Mr. Bushel's quarters Have room to move about.

Thirty-two cousins, the Quarts--ah, me!

What _will_ Mr. Bushel do?

Polite and open, he smiles and says, ”I'm alone, so there's room for _you_!”

A jingling crowd--the sixty-four Pints, To shelter them, no fun!

Mr. Bushel laughs, ”I'm empty now, Walk in, come, every one!”

Two hundred and fifty-six baby Gills, The tiniest friends and shy,-- ”Can we _all_ come in?” Mr. Bushel replies, ”I can hold you and not half try!”

A jolly good fellow to entertain all, This Mr. Bushel must be!

He takes them only one group at a time,-- And each group _makes_ him, you see!

THE WISH-MAN

A funny little Wish-Man came out of the Somewhere here, (You really should have seen him, he looked so wondrous queer); He had a pack upon his back, stuffed full as full could be, Of wishes for the boys and girls--those living near to me.

He said he'd indirectly heard--he couldn't tell just where,-- That in the town of Discontent were many dwelling there, Who wished for this and wished for that (it really was too bad), It made but little difference what, long's 't wasn't what they had!

Accordingly, he stuffed his pack (and tied around a band), With every single kind of wish now found within the land, And fared he forth from house to house, to please the people all, And dealt out every kind of wish for which he had a call.

To one 'twas wealth--a sordid wish; another called for joy; One asked for ease; one beauty took--a worthless sort of toy!

And so he gave them this and that, and all seemed happy quite, For which the Wish-Man naturally took very keen delight.

But when a stranger pa.s.sed the town of Discontent, he saw ('Twas just a short time after this) what filled him quite with awe; No merry whistle, smile nor laugh could be perceived at all,-- What dire disaster could have brought upon the town this pall!

He called upon a wealthy youth, who said, ”I'm all at sea,-- What stocks to buy, how to invest--it almost crazes me!

Before a rich man I became, I had all sorts of fun, But since my wish, a moment's joy I haven't had, not one!”

And thus 'twas so all through the town. Each testified the same; Not one was half so happy as before the Wish-Man came.

”Ah, ha!” Perhaps by this you've guessed who was the stranger man; If not, by throwing out this hint, I'm very sure you can!