(_WITH APOLOGIES TO WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT._)
["The Americans have had enough of the Sparrow (_Passer
domesticus_), and the mildest epithet reserved for him seems
to be that of 'pest.'"--_Daily Chronicle_.]
Tell me not of joy,--a hum!
Now the British Sparrow's come.
Sent first was he
Across the sea,
Advisers kind did flatter me,
When he winged way o'er Yankee soil,
My caterpillar swarms he'd spoil;
And oh, how pleasant that would be!
He would catch a grub, and then
_It_ would never feed again.
My fields he'd skip,
And peck, and nip,
And on the caterpillars feed;
And nought should crawl, or hop, or run
When he his hearty meal had done.
Alas! it was a sell, indeed!
O'er my fields he makes his flight,
In numbers almost infinite;
A plague, alas!
That doth surpass
The swarming caterpillar crew.
What I did I much regret;
_Passer_ is multiplying yet;
Check him I can't. What shall I do?
The British Sparrow won't depart,
His feathered legions break my heart.
Would _he_ away
I would not, nay!
About mere caterpillars fuss.
Patience with grubs and moths were mine,
Would _he_ but pass across the brine.
_I_ call _Passer Domestic Cuss_!
* * * * *
"HERE WE HARE AGAIN!"--There are two Johnnies on the stage. JOHNNY
Senior being J.L. TOOLE (now on his way home from New Zealand), and
JOHNNY Junior, JOHN HARE, both immensely popular as comedians, and
both in high favour with our most illustrious and judicious Patron
of the Drama, H.R.H. the Prince of WALES. It is gratifying to learn
that, after the performance of _A Pair of Spectacles_ at Sandringham,
the Prince presented the Junior of these two Johnnies with a silver
cigar-box. In the right-hand corner of the lid is engraved a hare
looking through a pair of spectacles, and inside is a dedication to
JOHN HARE from ALBERT EDWARD. "Pretty compliment this," as Sir WILL
SOMERS, the Court Jester, might have said,--"to JOHNNY HARE from the
Hare Apparent."
* * * * *