160 The Lamplighter extinguished. [FEB- 



Why thus continue ?" she went on ; 



" What use is in't, I pray ?" 

 " What use?" cries Jack " why am I not 



A weed-burner to-day ?" 



Like a foul chimney then he smoked, 



Or like a hotwell's tide ; 

 And yet went smoking on, till e'en 



His garret, was high-dried. 



His duties now were slighted all, 



His acts they shunned the light ; 

 Since e'en the very lamps he lit 



Scarce glimmered through the night. 



And then his wife burst forth, and spake, 



Prophetic, to this tune: 

 te Mark ! since my counsel's chance you miss, 



Mischance shall mark you soon." 



One night he smoked, and went to bed, 



As he was wont to do ; 

 A cry of " Fire !" anon proclaimed 



The house was smoking too. 



'Twas all Jack's work for, after he 



Had smoked five pipes before, 

 He knocked the sixth's hot ashes out 



All on the second floor. 



" Rise, Curling, rise !" his wife screamed out : 



' ' Curling, arise, you sot !" 

 The curling flames arose but, ah ! 



Curling himself did not. 



For, " much bemused with beer" and smoke, 



The fuddled sleeper lay ; 

 So, finding he would not get up, 



She up and got away. 



The firemen then they plied their pipes 



Such work to them was sport ; 

 And some long ladders fetched but these 



Ere long were found too short. 



As for poor Jack when the flames had ceased, 



And the smoke away was fanned, 

 They found him dead by the pipe of the house, 



With his own pipe in his hand ! 



