MISCELLANEOUS VERSES. XXI 



Then lie shared with his sire the anvil thud, 

 And bethought him of Hammer Lane ! 



" He could wield in one hand 'neath that blacksmith shed 

 A thirty-pound hammer with ease ; , 



And if a young Trojan got punched, it was said 

 The mark was full oft B.B.'s : 



His arms are twin ' Armstrongs' his shoulders and head 

 Are a model for Hercules !" 



Such heroes sublime have the world at their beck ; 



Hence the baffled beaks, to and fro, 

 Kept pacing for hours one continent's deck,* 



While the hope of two others below, 

 Stowed away in the cabin, right little did reck 



Of the bail-bonds of Buffalo. 



St. George had thought it mere vanity : 



But when, on his Liverpool pier,'!' 

 He gazed out of mere humanity, 



And scanned the Colossus near, 

 His muscular Christianity 



Was tempted to shed a tear. 



As he thought of the fight and " bellows to mend," 



He almost gasped for breath. 

 Quoth he " My little Tom will defend 



His standard to the death ; 

 But he'll have stiff work, from end to end, 



With this glorious son of Seth. 

 " But wont Johnny Gideon such thoughts deride ? 



Still our motto be' Who's afraid ? " 

 Then straight the American boxer hied 



To Salisbury's gothic shade ; 

 For Falkland thought it best to decide 



He was not to come on parade. 



Now enbalmed in The Tribune's types pretty smart, 



Floated over the star-lit sea 

 Ada Meekin's address to the man of her heart : 



Come back, my own love, to me ! 

 I miss thy sweet eyes as I play my part 



To the Boys at The Bowery. 



Care not for the taunts that another flings, 



The fellow is only a brute ; 

 Let him prate till he'se iveary of vows and rings 



Thy Ada's young heart ivas mute ; 

 He could no more play on that heart's fond strings, 



Than a kangaroo on a, flute. 



* The Asia. t St. George's Pier. 



