THE CLERK IN THE DARK.

“_Set forth, but not allowed to be sung in all Churches, of all the

people together._”

Once on a time, ’twas afternoon,

And winter--while the weary day

Danced off with Phœbus--to the tune

Of “O’er the hills and far away”----

I went to church, and heard the clerk

Preface the psalm with “Pardon me,

But really friends it is so dark,

Do all I may I cannot see”----

The “quire” that used the psalms to chant

Not dreaming to be thus misled--

Struck up in chorus jubilant,

The clerk’s apology instead!