THE EXCURSION TRAIN.
We left behind the painted buoy
That tosses at the harbour mouth;
And madly danced our hearts with joy
As fast we floated to the South.
THE VOYAGE.
"We left behind the painted boy
Who tumbles at the gutter's mouth,
And madly leaped our hearts for joy
In taking tickets for the south;
To get away from smell and sound,
And crowded street and city roar,
Two used-up clerks on pleasure bound,
Ere yet our holidays were o'er.
* * * *
And never tongue of ours was furled,
As on we went with spirits free;
The railway was our little world,
Though not a little whirled were we.
The winds and rain might blow and cease—
What cared we for wind or rain?
We'd paid our one pound ten apiece,
And this was our Excursion Train!
The following is an extract from a parody on The Lotus Eaters. It was written by Captain Barlow, and obtained the second prize offered by the Editor of The World, in which paper it appeared in September, 1879:—