She passed about the kitchen grate,
And went to making pies.
From Poems and Parodies by Phœbe Carey, Boston, U.S. 1854.
The same interesting little volume contains a number of clever parodies, of which those on the best known poets have already been printed in this collection. The remainder refer principally to American authors whose works are not very familiar to British readers. The book is out of print and very scarce, and although there is a copy of it in the Library, British Museum (11687. d), it is difficult to find, as it is improperly catalogued under Cary, instead of Carey.
Another curious American book is entitled “Strange Visitors, by the spirits of Irving, Willis, Thackeray, Bronté, Richter, Byron, Humboldt, Hawthorne, Wesley, Browning, and others, now dwelling in the Spirit World.” Dictated through a Clairvoyant while in an abnormal or Trance State. New York. G. W. Carleton, publisher, 1869.
Most of the papers in this volume are in prose, the following only are in verse:—
| To his Accusers | after Lord Byron. |
| The Lost Soul | “ E. A. Poe. |
| To her Husband | “ Mrs. E. B. Browning. |
| Hold Me Not, | “ Adah Isaacs Menken. |
| A Spirit Revisiting Earth | “ N. P. Willis. |
| Alone | “ Allan Cunningham. |
| The Spirit Bride | “ Adelaide A. Procter. |
All these imitations are serious, and even sombre, not to be styled parodies, although of little merit, except, perhaps, the imitation of Mrs. E. B. Browning.
Her spirit speaks thus:—
To her Husband.