65 



THE PARSON AND PEDAGOGUE. 



'Twas very dark, as it will be, 



When neither moon nor star is seen ; 

 So how could Smoke or Baker see, 



Since they all night had drinking been. 

 To find their way home .was their trouble, 

 E'en had they seen, it had been double. 

 "I'm sure this pathway must be wrong, 



You told me that you knew the road ; 

 I feel each step I go along, 



As 'neath the harrow does the toad. 

 Oh Baker ! Baker ! thou wilt be 

 The death both of thyself and me !" 

 " Hie hseret aqua," reverend sire, 



" Upon my word I've lost the way, 

 Tho' we get deeper. in the mire, 



Yet nought the righteous should dismay. 

 Says Horace Purus sceleris 

 Non eget Mauri jaculis." 



" I wish thy Latin stuff and thou 

 Were in the Styx, were I in bed ; 



But yonder look beneath that bough 

 I'm sure I saw a light a-head, 



Just down within this valley's lap ; 



It is a hut we'll go and rap," 



" Cur non mi domine ? I see 



A little twinkling light, 'tis true ; 



It may a jack-o'-lanthern be, 

 To give a dance to me and you ; 



But cito now I see it clear 



I wish I had a mug of beer !" 



As soon as they the hut had neared, 

 The shutters suddenly were closed ; 



So that the candle disappeared, 



And they were one and t'other posed 



To know if they had better tap, 



Before the people took a nap. 



" They surely will not eat us," said 

 The pedagogue ; " beside, if here 



We are condemn'd to make a bed, 

 I think it will become our bier ; 



The rheumatism will kill me, 



As I am sure the gout will thee." 



They knocked ; a little man in brown 

 Came to the door, and said his say ; 

 Each nudged the other, each looked down, 



But Baker pluck'd up courage, " They, 

 Returning home had lost the road, 

 Were straightened for a night's abode." 

 M. M. No. 85. F 



