THEN AND NOW.
(A disquisition on the use of gunpowder, by Master Jack.)
When they first invented gunpowder,
They did most dreadful things with it;
They blew up popes and parliaments,
And emperors and kings with it.
They put on funny hats and boots,
And skulked about in cellars, oh!
With shaking shoes they laid a fuse,
And blew it with the bellows, oh!
They wore great ruffs, the stupid muffs,
(At least that’s my opinion) then;
And said “What ho!” and “Sooth, ’tis so!”
And called each other “minion!” then.
But now, the world has turned about
Five hundred years and more, you see;
And folks have learned a thing or two
They did not know before, you see.
So nowadays the powder serves
To give the boys a jolly day
And try their Aunt Louisa’s nerves,
And make a general holiday.
In open day we blaze away
With popguns and with crackers, oh!
With rockets bright we crown the night,
(And some of them are whackers, oh!)
And “pop!” and “fizz!” and “bang!” and “whizz!”
Sounds louder still and louder, oh!
And that’s the way we use, to-day,
The funny gunny-powder, oh!