INSPIRATION.
(A Suburban Rhapsody.)
I said, "Within the garden trimly bordered,
Assisted by the merle, I mean to woo
The Heavenly Nine, by young Apollo wardered,"
And Araminta answered, "Yes, dear, do.
The deck chair's in the outhouse; lunch is ordered
For twenty-five to two."
I sat within the garden's island summer
And heard far off the shunting of the trains,
Noises of wheels, and speech of every comer
Passing the entrance—heard the man of brains
Talking of George's Budget, heard the plumber
Planning new leaks for drains.
These things did not disturb me. Through the fencing
I liked to bear in mind that men less free
Must toil and tramp, whilst I was just commencing
To court the Muses, foolscap on my knee,
Helped by the sweet bird in the shade-dispensing
Something-or-other tree.
I wrote: "Ah, who would be where rough men jostle
In dust and grime, like porkers at a trough.
When, here is May and May-time's blest apostle——"
Just then, without preliminary cough,
Suddenly, ere I knew, the actual throstle,
Tee'd up and started off.
It drowned the distant noise of motor-'buses,
It drowned the shunting trains, the traffic's roar,
The milk, the bread, the meat, the tradesmen's fusses,
And the long secret tale told o'er and o'er
That all day long Eliza Jane discusses
With the new girl next door.
So sweetly the bird sang. Great thrills went through it.
It seemed to say, "The glorious sun hath shone,
Flooding the world like treacle wrapped round suet;
Why should we harp of age and dull years gone?"
Time seemed to be no sort of object to it—
It just went on and on.
Therefore I rose, and later (o'er the trifle),
When Araminta with her tactful gush
Asked if the garden seemed to help or stifle
The Muses' output, I responded, "Tush;
When you go out, my dear, please buy a rifle;
I want to shoot that thrush."
Evoe.
Seen in a Birmingham shop window:—
"The Smartest Flannel Trouser in the City, 6/11."
If he had another one, even though not quite so smart, we might consider it.
"The world's longest and most accurate golf ball."—Advt.
Personally we prefer the short ones when it comes to putting them into the tin.