COMIC PIECES. 251 



Crying at each disaster " Drat it ! 

 Dang it ! 'orf rabbit it ! and rat it !" 



Just in this crisis of his doom, 



The host returning, sought the room ; 



And Sam no sooner heard his tread, 



Than pouncing on him like a bruin, 

 He almost shook him into ruin ; 



And with a shout of laughter, said 



By* gom, Fre cotch'd thee nou- ! so down 

 With cash for all, and my half crown .'" 



Off went the bandage, and his eyes 



Seem'd to be goggling o'er his forehead, 

 While his mouth widen'd with a horrid 



Look of agoniz'd surprise. 



" GULL !" roared his master " GUDGEON! DUNCE! 

 Fool as you are, you're right for once ; 

 'Tis clear that / must pay the sum ; 



But this one thought my wrath assuages, 

 That every halfpenny shall come 



Out of your wages." 



THE FARMER'S WIFE AND THE GASCON.f 



At Neufchatel, in France, where they prepare 



Cheeses that set us longing to be mites, 

 There dwelt a farmer's wife, famed for her rare 



Skill in these small quadrangular delights. 

 Where they were made, they sold for the immense 

 Price of three sous a piece ; 

 But as salt water made their charms increase, 

 In England the fixed rate was eighteen pence. 



This damsel had to help her in the farm, 



To milk her cows and feed her hogs, 

 A Gascon peasant, with a sturdy arm 



For digging or for carrying logs ; 



* Sam's rustic dialect must not be forgotten. 



f Throughout this piece there is a great deal of broad comic humour, 

 which will require a corresponding attention in the recital. 



