ON THE EVE OF A DEBATE ON THE FRANCHISE BILL.
You must wake up! there'll be such a hurly-burly, Staffy, dear;
To-morrow'll be the merriest night the House has had this year;
Of all the nights this year, Staffy, the night to be marked with chalk,
For I'm to be Cock o' the Walk, Staffy, I'm to be Cock o' the Walk.
There's many a clack-clack cry, they say, but none so shrill as mine;
There's Peel and Gorst and Drummond, there's Balfour superfine;
But none so rare as little Randy in all the House for talk,
So I'm to be Cock o' the Walk, Staffy, I'm to be Cock o' the Walk.
As I came through the lobby whom think ye should I see
But Gladdy poring o'er the bill to set the yokels free.
He caught my eye and shook, Staffy—I eyed him like a hawk!
But I'm to be Cock o' the Walk, Staffy, I'm to be Cock o' the Walk.
The hinds may reap and sow, Staffy, but ere that measure pass,
The cows will get the franchise as they munch the meadow grass;
There will not be a vote for Hodge, if only the bill we baulk,
And I'm to be Cock o' the Walk, Staffy, I'm to be Cock o' the Walk.
All the Tories, Staffy, will obstruct it with a will,
And the swift foot and the slow foot will mash and maul the bill;
And the G.O.M. will fret and fume like fizz when you draw the cork,
For I'm to be Cock o' the Walk, Staffy, I'm to be Cock o' the Walk.
GOSSAMER.