A ROYAL CRACKSMAN.

When the housebreaking business is slack

And cracksmen are finding it slow—

For all the seasiders are back

And a great many more didn't go—

Here's excellent news from the front

And joy in Bill Sikes's brigade;

Things are looking up since

The German Crown Prince

Has been giving a fillip to trade.

His methods are quite up to date,

Displaying adroitness and dash;

What he wants he collects in a crate,

What he doesn't he's careful to smash.

An historical château in France

With Imperial ardour he loots,

Annexing the best

And erasing the rest

With the heels of his soldierly boots.

Sikes reads the report with applause;

It's quite an inspiring affair;

But a sudden idea gives him pause—

The Germans must stop over there!

So he flutters a Union Jack

To help to keep Englishmen steady,

Remarking, "His nibs

Mustn't crack English cribs,

The profession is crowded already."