KING CAULIFLOWER.—By Palmer Cox.
Old Cauliflower was a king who ruled o'er land and sea;
He took a penny from the till of his great treasury,
And with the money in his hand he ran about the town
To make a purchase of a pint of pea-nuts roasted brown.
And when he brought them to his room it was the king's intent
To eat the pea-nuts in the bed before to sleep he went.
To this the queen objection made, and very well she might,
For he was well along in years, and late it was at night.
Then said the crabbed Cauliflower: "Am I not a king?
And may I not do what I please, or swallow anything?
Oh! have a care, my queenly dame; my word is law, you know,
And if I do but say the word, your saucy head may go."
Then quick the fearless queen replied: "Go, frighten slave or fool,
But I would have you understand that here 'tis I who rule:
So take your pea-nuts somewhere else, and may they cost you dear.
For were you fifty times a king you'll not be munching here!"
Then out upon the steps of stone in silence sat his grace,
And ate the pint of roasted nuts before he left the place.