Sufficient, wholesome, good.
Then to the British public health,
Who all our care relieves;
And while they treat us as they do,
They’ll never want for thieves.
This parody was ascribed to the pen of one Stephen Bills, a convict, and some twenty years ago his photograph could be obtained, with the parody printed at the back. Mr. Bills was there represented in the costume peculiar to gentlemen who are enjoying state hospitality. It is a curious circumstance that a very similar parody was included in the volume entitled “Wit and humour, by Shirley Brooks,” edited by his son, and published by Bradbury, Agnew & Co., London.
It would be interesting to know whether Mr. Shirley Brooks was the actual author, or whether he obtained the poem in the manner stated below:
Song by a Caged Bird.
The following lines were found in the cell of a discharged convict, who made his way into a Chaplain’s heart by piety, and, subsequently, into a jeweller’s shop by burglary.
The spirit that dictated such an irreverence
with Dr. Watts is worthy of the Author.