But verdant and not brown,—
What could have happened to a tint so ruddy?
Indeed it was a very novel case,
By way of penalty for being jolly,
To have that evergreen stuck in his face,
Just like the windows with their Christmas holly.
"All claret marks,"—thought he—Tom knew his forte—
"Are red—this color CANNOT come from Port!"
One thing was plain; with such a face as his,
'Twas quite impossible to ever greet