"You say that you've a sovereign way
To end the placard pest;
Oh, Mistress COBBE, reveal it, pray,
And give my spirit rest!"
"You're very green, that may be seen,"
Th' aggressive dame did shout;
"The way to kill a noxious Bill
Is--just to throw it out.
"Mid hills, in towns,--that's not so bad,--
And in the quiet lane,
We let the advertising cad
Tyrannically reign.
"So in my walks I take a brush,
Also a watering-can,
And on the hideous foe I rush,
And that's _my_ little plan!
"Without compunction, without haste,
Though passers-by may stare,
I strip the paper from its paste,
And leave the fragments there."
"_That_ plan," I said, "I've never tried;
It shows, no doubt, devotion;
But is it legal?" She replied,
"_I've not the slightest notion!_"
* * * * *