Ten minutes here! The sun is sinking,
And longingly we've long been thinking
Of Tea, Tea, fragrant Tea!
The marble slabs we gather round.
They're long in bringing what is wanted,
The china cup with draught em-brown'd,
Our thirsty souls are wholly haunted
By Tea, Tea, fragrant Tea!
Now then, you waiter, stir, awaken!
Time's up. I'll hardly save my bacon.
Tea, Tea, bring that Tea!
At last! The infusion's rayther dark.
But hurry up! Can't stay for ever!
One swig! Br-r-r-r! Hang the cunning shark!
Will't never cool? Nay, never, never!
Tea, Tea, scalding Tea!
More milk; don't be an hour in bringing!
Heavens! That horrid bell is ringing!
"Take your seats, please!" Can't _touch_ the Tea!
Cup to the carriage must not take;
Crockery may be lost, or broken;
Refreshment sharks are wide awake.
But--many a naughty word is spoken
O'er Tea, Tea, scalding Tea!
[Illustration]
* * * * *
[Illustration: BEHIND THE SCENES
_Head Barmaid._ "These tarts are quite stale, Miss Hunt--been on the
counter for a fortnight! _Would_ you mind taking them into the
_second-class_ refreshment-room?"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: A LUSUS MACHINER--AE
_Chatty Passenger._ "Porter! That's one of those curious tailless Manx
cats, is it not?"
_Crusty Porter (shortly)._ "No, 'taint. Morn'g 'xpress!"
_Passenger (puzzled)._ "E--h--I don't understand----"
_Porter._ "Don't yer? Well, you come and put your toe on these 'ere down
metals about 9.14 a.m. to-morrow, and----"
_Passenger (enlightened)._ "Ah!--I see--jus' so----"
[_Retires under cover of newspaper._
* * * * *