AFTER TENNYSON'S "GRANDMOTHER."
And Willy, with Franchise horn, is gone to blow in the North!
Sturdy, though white, and strong on his legs, bravely holding forth;
And Willy's wife is with him—she ever was true and wise,
Always a wife for Willy—he often takes her advice.
For madame, you see, is clever; she loves her Franchise Bill,
And he can talk so ready, and manage the Scots with skill.
Pretty enough, very pretty! I won't say against it for one.
Eh! but my Lords shall fear him—when Willy his task has done.
Willy, my beauty, my chieftain true, the flower of the flock,
Never a lord can move him, for Willy stands like a rock.
He has always a word for the weak, for crofter and fellaheen too;
There ne'er was his like in the land, since Eighteen-thirty-two.
Strong for the right, and strong in the fight, strong still in his tongue;
And peers shall go down before him, though the "feller" is not young.
Welcome him back, my brothers, from the North land far away,
Soon shall we liberty see, brothers, when Willy has won the day.
JAMES G. MEAGHER.
The Weekly Dispatch, September 14, 1884.
(Parody Competition).