MR. PUNCH AT A PICTURE SHOW.
(The Collection of Sir John Tenniel's Drawings at the Fine Art Society's Gallery.)
Air.—"My Old Friend John."
'Tis forty years, my dear Sir John,
Since you and I first met.
Lord, how the fleeting hours have flown!
But we foregather yet,
I gaze on this brave show with pride—
Fine art, still in full feather!
By Jove, it seems but yesterday
Since we were "boys" together.
Since we were boys, merry, merry boys,
At our old Board together!
There's gladness in remembrance, John;
Your pencil-strokes struck true;
Through all the shifts of party life,
No pause that pencil knew.
We've missed old comrades one by one;
Our friendship moults no feather;
Can forty years and more have run
Since we were "boys" together?
Since we were boys, merry, merry boys,
At our old Board together!
I gaze and proudly ponder, John;
I've seen them all before—
Gladstone, Bright, Dizzy, Bull!—Well done!!!
Fresh as in days of yore
The Big Cuts gleam. By sea and stream,
Moor, mountain, ice-field, heather.
Force, grace, fair fun mark all you've done,
Since we were "boys" together.
Chorus all "Round the Mahogany Tree."
Since we were boys, merry, merry boys!
So meet we, in full feather,
For many sunny years, Sir John,
Still boys—at heart—together!
