(_Latest Parliamentary Version._)
[Illustration]
It's of three jovial huntsmen, an' a hunting they did go;
An' they hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' they blew their horns also.
Look ye there!
An' one said, "Mind yo'r 'ayes,' and keep yo'r 'noes' well down th' wind,
An' then, by scent or seet, we'll leet on summat to our mind."
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' the first thing they did find
Was a tatter't boggart, in a field, an' that they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said it was a scarecrow, an' another he said "Nay;
It's just the British Farmer, an' he seems in a bad way."
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a gruntin', grindin' grindlestone, an' that they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said it was a grindlestone, another he said "Nay;
It's just th' owd Labour Question, which is always in the way."
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a bull-calf in a pinfold, an' that too they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said it was a bull-calf, an' another he said "Nay;
It is just a Rural Voter who has lately learned to bray."
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a two-three children leaving school, an' these they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said that they were children, but another he said "Nay;
They're Denominational-divvels, who want freedom _plus_ State-pay."
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, and the next thing they did find
Was two street-spouters and a crowd, an' these they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said they were street-spouters, but another he said, "Nay;
They're just teetotal lunatics who on Veto want their say."
Look ye there!
They hunted an' they hollo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a dead sheep hanging by it's heels, an' that they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said it was Welsh Mutton, but another he said, "Nay;
It's the ghost of a Suspensory Bill; we'd better get away!"
Look ye there!
They hunted, an' they hollo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a fat pig boltin' thro' a hedge, an' _that_ they left behind.
Look ye there!
One said it was an Irish hog, but another he said "Nay;
It's our plump, pet Home-Rule porker, which the Lords have
driven away!"
Look ye there!
So they hunted, an' they hollo'd, till the setting of the sun;
An' they'd nought to bring away at last, when th' huntin'-day
was done.
Look ye there!
Then one unto the other said, "This huntin' doesn't pay;
But we've powler 't up an' down a bit, an' had a rattlin' day."
Look ye there!
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[Illustration: BRILLIANT SUGGESTION.
(_Overheard at the Sea-side._)
_She._ "SO MUCH NICER NOW THAT ALL THE VISITORS HAVE GONE. DON'T YOU
THINK SO?"
_He._ "YES, BY JOVE! SO JOLLY NICE AND QUIET! OFTEN WONDER THAT
_EVERYBODY_ DOESN'T COME NOW, WHEN THERE'S NOBODY HERE, DON'T YOU
KNOW!"]
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