And saw an Alderman stand forth; thought I: “What make you here?”

There was upon his face a look of somewhat common joy;

Again I thought: “Oh, can it be, you ever were a boy?”

But, strange to say, they cheer’d him still, and gave him such applause,

I looked into his face again, to try and seek the cause;

Till some one in a wig announced he had not pass’d the chair,

And asked the citizens if they would make him their Lord Mayor.

They said they would; I’m bound to say I didn’t like the plan,

He seem’d to be, you see, a very pompous Alderman!

And put on very bumptious airs, and puff’d his shirt front out;