A BOAT-RACE VISION.

(By an Oxbridge Enthusiast.)

Winds from the East may provoke us,

Making us angry and ill,

Dust of the Equinox choke us,

Yet we will welcome thee still,

Spring, now the runnels of primrose and crocus

Trickle all over the hill;

Now, when the willow and osier

Flicker in diffident green;

Now, when the poplars are rosier,

When the first daisies are seen,

And the windows of draper and hosier

Are bright with their 'Varsity sheen.

"Not what it was, Sir, in my time,"

Grumbles a fogey, or two;

"Then we had really a high-time,

Lord, what mad things we would do!

Skylarking! Well, it was sky-time.

Blue! It was nothing but blue!"

Well, let the people and papers

Say what it please them to say,

Shops of the politic drapers

Follow them, sombre or gay,

"Men" be austere, or cut capers,

Still 'tis a glorious day!

Visions of Sandford or Ely,

Baitsbite, or Abingdon Lock,

Skies that are stormy or steely,

Seas that we ship with a shock,

"Coaches," whose mouths are not mealy,

"Faithfuls," who riverward flock,

Mornings, inclement and early,

Stinted tobacco and beer,

Tutors reluctant and surly,

"Finals" unpleasantly near—

All are forgot in the hurly—

Lo! the long looked-for is here!

Now, at the start, as I'm eyeing

The back, that I know like a friend,

I wonder which flag will be flying

In front at the winning-post bend—

Shall we triumph, or, fruitlessly trying,

Row it out, game to the end?

Point after point we are clearing,

Mile after mile we have sped;

Multiplied roaring and cheering

Sound as they sound to the dead.

Surely the end we are nearing!

Yes, but I know they're ahead!

Then is the toiling and straining

Out of the tail of my eye

Somehow I see we are gaining—

Look at the wash running by!

Now, in the minutes remaining,

Somehow we'll do it, or die.

There are blades flashing beside us,

Dropping astern one by one.

Now they creep up—they have tied us—

No! The spurt dies—they are done!

Gods of the 'Varsity guide us!—

Bang! "Easy all!" We have won!

The Coal Strike was easily settled, as all that had to be discussed were "Miner Considerations."