Ex. LXII.-THE BRIEFLESS BARRISTER. AN attorney was taking a turn, JOHN G. SAXE His breeches had suffered a breach, And in brief, I've ne'er had a brief! "I've waited and waited in vain, 6 Expecting an opening' to find, Where an honest young lawyer might gain "Tis not that I'm wanting in law, Or lack an intelligent face, That others have cases to plead, While I have to plead for a case. "O, how can a modest young man Of lawyers so full of profession!" While thus he was strolling around, On a very deep hole in the ground, And he sighed to himself, "It is well!" To curb his emotions he sat On the curb-stone the space of a minute, Then cried, "Here's an opening at last!" And in less than a jiffy was in it! Next morning twelve citizens came, ('Twas the coroner bade them attend,) To the end that it might be determined How the man had determined his end! "The man was a lawyer, I hear," Quoth the foreman who sat on the corse; "A lawyer? Alas!" said another, 66 Undoubtedly he died of remorse!" A third said, "He knew the deceased, 'T was no doubt from the want of a cause." The jury decided at length, After solemnly weighing the matter, "That the lawyer was drownded, because He could not keep his head above water!" Ex. LXIII.—DOUGLAS AND MARMION. THE train from out the castle drew; But Marmion stopped to bid adieu: SCOTT. "Though something I might plain," he said, 66 My manors, halls, and bowers, shall still Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, And "This to me!" he said,— "An 't were not for thy hoary beard To cleave the Douglas' head! Here, in thy hold, thy vassals near, I tell thee, thou 'rt defied!le but To any lord in Scotland here, Lord Angus, thou hast lied!" On the earl's cheek the flush of rage Fierce he broke forth:-"And dar'st thou then To beard the lion in his den, The Douglas in his hall? And hop'st thou hence unscathed to go? Lord Marmion turned,-well was his need, Ex. LXIV.-MISADVENTURES AT MARGATE. R. HARRIS BARHAM. I was in Margate last July, I walked upon the pier, He frowned, that little vulgar boy-he deemed I meant to scoff And when the little heart is big, a little "sets it off;" "Hark! don't you hear, my little man ?—it's striking nine," I said, "An hour when all good little boys and girls should be in bed. Run home and get your supper, else your ma' will scoldoh! fie! It's very wrong indeed for little boys to stand and cry!" The tear-drop in his little eye again began to spring, "Ah! I have n't got no supper! and I have n't got no ma' ! !— "My father, he is on the seas,-my mother's dead and gone! "If there's a soul will give me food, or find me in employ, By day or night, then blow me tight!" (he was a vulgar boy ;) "And now I'm here, from this here pier it is my fixed intent To jump, as Mr. Levi did from off the Monu-ment!" "Cheer up said, ! cheer up! my little man-cheer up!" I kindly You are a naughty boy to take such things into your head: If you should jump from off the pier, you'd surely break your legs, Perhaps your neck-then Bogey 'd have you, sure as eggs are eggs! "Come home with me, my little man, come home with me and sup; My landlady is Mrs. Jones-we must not keep her upThere's roast potatoes on the fire,—-enough for me and you— Come home, you little vulgar boy-I lodge at Number 2." I took him home to Number 2, the house beside "The Foy," I bade him wipe his dirty shoes,-that little vulgar boy,— And then I said to Mistress Jones, the kindest of her sex, "Pray be so good as go and fetch a pint of double X !” But Mrs. Jones was rather cross, she made a little noise, Said I might "go to Jericho, and fetch my beer myself!" I did not go to Jericho I went to Mr. Cobb I changed a shilling—(which in town the people call “ It was not so much for myself as for that vulgar child— a When I came back I gazed about--I gazed on stool and chair I could not see my little friend-because he was not there! I could not see my table-spoons-I looked, but could not see I could not see my Mackintosh!-it was not to be seen! My carpet-bag-my cruet-stand, that holds my sauce and soy, My roast potatoes!-all are gone!-and so 's that vulgar boy! I rang the bell for Mrs. Jones, for she was down below, “—Oh, Mrs. Jones! what do you think?—ain't this a pretty go? 66 -That horrid little vulgar boy whom I brought here to-night, -He 's stolen my things and run away!!"-Says she, "And sarve you right!!” Next morning I was up betimes-I sent the crier round, no!" |