254 COMIC PIECES. 



" Zooks!" cried the rustic, " I'm right glad to hear it. 

 Constable, catch that thief ! may I go hang 



If yonder bluebottle (I know his face,) 

 Isn't the very leader of the gang 

 That stole the cream; let me come near it !" 



This said, he started from his plare, 

 And aiming one of his sledge-hammer blows 

 At a large fly upon the Judge's nose, 

 The luckless bluebottle he smash'd, 



And gratified a double grudge ; 

 For the same catapult completely smash'd 

 The bottle nose belonging to the Judge. 



THE CUR AND THE MASTIFF. 



There lived iu a village not far from a river, 



A PUPPY, who thought himself knowing and clever; 



A pert little cur, who, unable to BITE, 



Kept snarling and barking from morning to night. 



Whoever approach'd him he noisily greeted, 

 And with his shrill music each traveller treated ; 

 If he bark'd himself hoarse he would speedily rally, 

 And alike on his friends and his foes would he sally. 



With his weakness and folly since ALL were acquainted, 

 His violent conduct they seldom resented : 

 To pass him in scorn is the course they prefer, 

 Since nobody cared for an insolent* cur. 



The forbearance towards him thus daily extended, 

 To make him the prouder and saucier tended ; 

 He thought the whole village beheld him with fear, 

 And he deem'd himself MASTER of all who came near. 



It happen'd, however, onef cold winter's day, 



A noble\ large mastiff was passing that way ; 



When, to show his importance, our silly young whelp 



As usual began at his betters to yelp. 



* This requires an expression of disdain. 

 f Slow rate of utterance, for the sake of emphasis. 

 Protracted utterance. 



