(_Some way after Thomas Haynes Bayly's "Soldier's Tear."_)
When at the porch he turned,
To take a last fond look.
(Human emotion will have way
In TOMMY or in Duke.)
He listened to the tramp,
So familiar to his ear;
And the soldier gripped his good old sword,
And wiped away a tear.
Not far from that same porch
A Tommy stood at ease,
But, as he saw, his head braced up,
And he stiffened at the knees.
"Sorry to lose you, Sir!
You've been _our_ friend, and dear!"
That TOMMY cried, and with his cuff,
_He_ wiped away a tear.
Both turned, and left the spot,
Oh! do not deem them weak,
For dauntless was each soldier's heart,
Though a tear bedewed each cheek.
As _Punch_ gives hearty thanks,
At the close of a long career,
To the gallant Duke, _he_ also turns,
And--wipes away a tear!
* * * * *
Seasonable Dialogue.
_First Dissatisfied Sportsman._ What do you think of the present
season, so far?
_Second Dis. Sport._ (_with a terrific "cold id 'is dose"_). Der
preselt seasult? You mead der cubbig season.
_First Dis. Sport._ (_correcting him_). Well, the present season _is_
the "cubbing season."
* * * * *