John led him away with a victor’s hand,
And Jimmy was shortly seen
In the station-house under the grand Grand Stand
(As many a time I’ve been).
And Jimmy, bad boy, was imprisoned for life,
Though Emily pleaded hard;
And Johnny had Emily Jane to wife
(And I am a doggerel bard).
THE PERILS OF INVISIBILITY.
Old Peter led a wretched life—
Old Peter had a furious wife;
Old Peter too was truly stout,
He measured several yards about.
The little fairy Picklekin
One summer afternoon looked in,
And said, “Old Peter, how de do?
Can I do anything for you?
“I have three gifts—the first will give
Unbounded riches while you live;
The second health where’er you be;
The third, invisibility.”
“O little fairy Picklekin,”
Old Peter answered with a grin,
“To hesitate would be absurd,—
Undoubtedly I choose the third.”
“’Tis yours,” the fairy said; “be quite
Invisible to mortal sight
Whene’er you please. Remember me
Most kindly, pray, to Mrs. P.”
Old Mrs. Peter overheard
Wee Picklekin’s concluding word,
And, jealous of her girlhood’s choice,
Said, “That was some young woman’s voice!”
Old Peter let her scold and swear—
Old Peter, bless him, didn’t care.
“My dear, your rage is wasted quite—
Observe, I disappear from sight!”