That I'm really prevented from saying my pray'rs, Hector Achille Stanislaus Emile, When he heard him talk so felt an odd sort of feel; Not that he cared for Ghosts-he was far too genteel; Still a queerish sensation came on when he saw Him, whom, for fun, They'd, by way of a pun In his horns, all at once, so completely to draw, Repetition's detestable ;- So, as you're best able Paint to yourself the effect at the Mess-table How the bold Brigadiers Prick'd up their ears, And received the account, some with fears, some with sneers. How the Sieur de la Roue Said to Count Cordon "Ma foi-c'est bien drôle-Monseigneur, what say you?" How Count Cordon Bleu Declared he "thought so too; " How the Colonel affirm'd that new; '" "the case was quite How the Captains and Majors Began to lay wagers How far the Ghost part of the story was true ; How, at last, when asked "What was the best thing to do?" Everybody was silent, -for nobody knew! And how, in the end, they said, "No one could deal I need scarcely relate The plans, little and great, Which came into the Chevalier Hippolyte's pate To rescue his friend from his terrible foes, Those mischievous Imps whom the world, I suppose From extravagant notions respecting their hue, Has strangely agreed to denominate "Blue," Inasmuch as his schemes were of no more avail Than those he had, early in life, found to fail, When he strove to lay salt on some little bird's tail. In vain did he try With strong waters to ply His friend, on the ground that he never could spy Such a thing as a Ghost, with a drop in his eye; St. Foix never would drink now unless he was dry; Besides, what the vulgar call "sucking the monkey" Save once, when at Mess, With that sort of address, Which the British call "Humbug," and Frenchmen "Finesse" (It's "Blarney" in Irish-I don't know the Scotch,) He fell to admiring his friend's English watch. * He examined the face, And the back of the case, And the young Lady's portrait there, done on enamel, he "Saw by the likeness was one of the family;" Cried "Superbe!-Magnifique!" (With his tongue Then he open'd the case, just to take a peep in it, and It happen'd that day They were all very gay, *Twas the Grand Monarque's birthday-that is, 'twas St. Louis's, Which in Catholic countries, of course, they would view as his * "Tompion's, I presume?"-Farquhar. So when Hippolyte saw Him about to withdraw, He cried, "Come-that won't do, my fine fellow, St. Foix, Give us five minutes longer, and drink Vive le Roi!" François Xavier Auguste, Without any mistrust, Of the trick that was play'd, drew his watch from his fob, Just glanced at the hour, then agreed to "hob-nob," Fill'd a bumper, and rose With "Messieurs, I He paused-his blanch'd lips fail'd to utter the toast. size And he stood as a pointer would stand-at a Ghost! -Then shriek'd, as he fell on the floor like a stone, "Ah! Sister Therese! now-do let me alone!" It's amazing by sheer perseverance what men do, - Spider, "She's sure to come round, if you will but abide her." Then another great Rob, Called "White-headed Whom I once saw receive such a thump on the "nob" While his "backer" was fain- For he could not (He was dress'd in pea-green, with a pin and gold chain, And I think I heard somebody call him "Squire Hayne,") To whisper ten words one should always retain, -"TAKE A SUCK AT THE LEMON AND AT HIM AGAIN!!!" A hint ne'er surpass'd, though thus spoken at random, Since Teucer's apostrophe-Nil desperandum! Grandville acted on it, and order'd his Tandem. He had heard St. Foix say, That no very great way From Namur was a snug little town called Grandpré, Near which, a few miles from the banks of the Maese, Dwelt a pretty twin-sister of poor dear Therese, Of the same age, of course, the same father, same mother, And as like to Therese as one pea to another; She liv'd with her Mamma, Having lost her Papa, |