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"Far away
Shines a single ray,
But what it may be I can't venture to say;
It looks rather far,
But since here we are
Without any voice
In the matter or choice,
Whatever the distance we ought to rejoice-
For whether the night be a melter
Or pelter-
If it's muggy as beer or it rains helter-skelter-
We mustn't make light of a light that means shelter!"
On went the children, still shoulder to shoulder,
As frightened as bricks, and-than stones vastly colder,
And much more alarmed, for a stone is oft bowlder!
Arm-in-arm,
In alarm,
Expecting some harm,
In a terror no words of their brother's could charm,
They walked t'wards the light
Gleaming out through the night,
And as fearful to turn as if playing at Fright.
Through brake and through mire,
Beginning to tire,
Trudged the sorrowful sons of a sorrowful sire.
On wandered they
In pursuit of a ray
(Though girls more than boys think of dress, so they say);
Till at length at the great
Front-door, postern-gate
(Or whatever 't was called at that very vague date),
Of a castle, or mansion, a building gigantic,
Designed on the model of dwellings romantic-
You queer little crew
Gothic, solid, and strong,
That lasts ever so long-
Not sham Gothic run up on that very bad plan, tick!
'T was terribly high;
It wearied the eye
To follow its turrets up into the sky,
How many feet.
I don't care to repeat,-
I 'm a bad hand at figures, of which to be sparing,
T was as high as the Grosvenor, or Langham, or Charing. *
They none of them knew what course to pursue,
Till Hop o' my Thumb found a horn—which he blew;
Whereon some one the bolts, bars, and fastenings withdrew,
And came out with a light
Very vivid and bright,
On the top of the steps at the head of the flight,
And they saw, to their joy,
Not a man—nor a boy-
But one of a sex for which terms we employ
Of a tenderer sort;
In short, one to court-
"In short"? Not at all—but a tall one, in short!
For she was a giantess, being in figure
Than Chang the tremendous, An-actually bigger.
[Original Size] -- [Medium-Size]
"Who are you, you queer little crew?"
Said Hop o' my Thumb, "Madam, pray how d' ye do?
* The poet who sighed (he's depicted as thin)
The warmest of welcomes to find at an inn
Might equal in panting
The sighs of a Banting
To learn that these inns are prepared, in kind thrift,
To give to those guests who are poorest—a lift!
We people so small
Have come for a call:
We want a night's lodging and supper, that's all!"
"Alas!" said the dame,
"I can't promise that same,
Though your lonely condition to pity lays claim.
But to grant your entreaty were really a sin-
In receiving you here, I should take you all in!"
"Please, madam, do!"
Said the terrified crew,
Who fancied each moment much darker it grew,
And gazing with awe,
Believed that they saw
Wild beasts coming after with ravenous maw
(Not to mention such trifles as jaw, paw, or claw),
And spectres enough all their marrow to thaw;
So closer and closer together they drew,
Repeating the chorus of "Please, madam, do!"
"My poor children!" said she,
"I've a husband, and he
Is an Ogre as savage as savage can be;
His appetite's great, and when hungry he's sweet on boys;
So board, lodging, and clothing
He 'll give you for no-thing, *
Besides education—because you 'll be Eton, boys!"
These words they don't like,
But the terror they strike
Not being so near
As the darkness they fear,
They beg her once more to their prayer to give ear.
* Pray pardon the rhyme, which, it's terribly clear,
Is a rhyme to the eye, not a rhyme to the ear.
If in thus fitting clothing you fancy I fail, or
Am making a botch—say 't was done by a tailor.
"By arm, leg, or head,
He dragged all the urchins from under the bed"
"Please, madam, do!"
Said the terrified crew;
"We're prepared to be eaten, we're in such a stew!
Besides, ma'am, you might
Put us out of his sight;
We only want shelter and food for the night.
Let our prayers, and our tears, and our woes your heart soften;
Some supper provide us,
And hide us—please hide us,-
We 're quite used to it, father has done it so often.''
Moved by their tears, she flung open the door,
And gave them some food; but in five minutes more,
Ere they'd finished their bread
And Gloster, she said,
"Here's the Ogre approaching—get under the bed!
Unless you feel gridiron-like or stewpan-ish,
Or would like to be fried with the onions called Spanish!
They were off in a jiffy,
As promptly as if he
Were Colonel Stodare and had said to them, "Vanish!"
But scarce were they hidden away, I declare,
Than the giant came in with a curious air.
All his wife's kind precautions were very well meant,
But he, like a Jew
Who is going to do
A bill, was not easily sent off the scent.
"Fee, faw, fum!"
Said he, "there are some
Little children about—yes, I nose there are, mum!"
No sooner said,
Than by arm, leg, or head,
He dragged all the urchins from under the bed.