“Oliver Twist,” as you will have guessed, The “Rose and Oliver” plate suppressed:
Not with the stippling over-writ— Only Bruton[19] can show you IT.
And here “The Bottle” COLOURED, date Eighteen-hundred-and-forty-eight.
Yes, no doubt, ’twas among the first Thrusts that the Master launched at Thirst.
! George, you say, was at best, you think, As a Temperance man denouncing drink !
!! You dare tell me you interlope In quest of books for your “Band of Hope” !!
!!! You swore “by George” on his “Omnibus” You were assuredly one of us !!!
!!!! Avaunt, I prithee, aroynt, vacate This orthodox shrine to George the Great !!!!
For only those of the cult may come Into my sanctum sanc-to-rum.
[19] Since the Bruton sale in 1897 this, alas, is no longer true.