Reflections on Cleopathera's Needle 105 "Och, London is a town in Spain; "Twas lost in the earthquake, Sir; The cockneys murther English there, Whenever they do spake, Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, For in history and geography I've taught you all I can, Sir. Where you got all your knowledge, James A. Sidey. REFLECTIONS ON CLEOPATHERA'S NEEDLE So that's Cleopathera's Needle, bedad, An' a quare lookin' needle it is, I'll be bound; Imagine her sittin' there stitchin' like mad Wid a needle like that in her hand! I declare The taste of her, ordherin' a needle of granite! I wondher can these be the thracks of her thumb! I once was astonished to hear of the faste Cleopathera made upon pearls; but now It's aisy to see why bould Cæsar should quail Wid a weapon like that in her fist I'll go bail She could frighten the sowl out of big Finn MacCool! But, Lord, what poor pigmies the women are now, Compared with the monsthers they must have been then! Whin the darlin's in those days would kick up a row, Holy smoke, but it must have been hot for the men! Just think how a chap that goes courtin' would start That the needle in front of me there takes the pins! O, sweet Cleopa thera! I'm sorry you're dead; An' whin lavin' this wondherful needle behind Had ye thought of bequathin' a spool of your thread An' yer thimble an' scissors, it would have been kind. But pace to your ashes, ye plague of great men, Ye'll never wield sceptre or needle again, Cormac O'Leary. THE ORIGIN OF IRELAND WITH due condescension, I'd call your attention And without hesitation I will show how that nation 'Twas early one morning, without any warning, Old Neptune, who knew her, began to pursue her, As to the Weather 107 But Jove, the great janius, looked down and saw Vanus, And Neptune so heinous pursuing her wild, And he spoke out in thunder, he'd rend him asunderAnd sure 'twas no wonder-for tazing his child. A star that was flying hard by him espying, That star it was dry land, both low land and high land, Upon Erin nately jumped Vanus so stately, That sup was victorious, it made her feel glorious- Unknown. AS TO THE WEATHER I remember, I remember, In the winter there were freezings- Like what it used to was! Unknown. THE TWINS IN form and feature, face and limb, It puzzled all our kith and kin, One day (to make the matter worse), And thus, you see, by Fate's decree, My brother John got christen'd me, This fatal likeness even dogg'd What would you do, if you were me, Our close resemblance turn'd the tide For somehow my intended bride Became my brother's wife. In short, year after year the same Absurd mistakes went on; And when I died-the neighbors came And buried brother John! Henry S. Leigh. "WHAT other men have dared, I dare," He said. "I'm daring, too: And tho' they told me to beware, "Did I say one? Forgive me, dear; ""Tis sweet one kiss from you to win, But to stop there? Oh, no! One kiss is only to begin; There is no end, you know." 109 |