CASUS BELLI.

(For a sensitive Scot.)

Tea-shop, how I loathe thee!

Our connection's o'er;

Henceforth I don't know thee

Any more.

'Tisn't that I did not

On thy pastry dote;

'Tisn't that it slid not

Down my throat;

'Tisn't that thy crumpets

Fell a trifle flat—

If I've got the hump it's

Not from that.

'Tisn't that the waitress

Tried to wink at me,

Or let fall a stray tress

In my tea;

'Tisn't that I tossed thee

Tenpence in the till

For a snack that cost thee

Almost nil....

Nay, 'twas this unnerved me—

Just a scŏne alone,

Which the lass who served me

Called a scōne.