OLD AND NEW
Pm sure my poor head aches again
I've scratched it so, and all in vain.
Oh for a trap, a trap, a trap ! "
Just as he said this, what should hap
At the chamber door but a gentle tap ?
" Bless us," cried the Mayor, " what's that ? "
(With the Corporation as he sat,
Looking little though wondrous fat;
Nor brighter was his eye, nor moister
Than a too-long-opened oyster, 10
Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous
For a plate of turtle green and glutinous)
" Only a scraping of shoes on the mat ?
Anything like the sound of a rat •
Makes my heart go pit-a-pat! "
:c Come in ! "—the Mayor cried, looking bigger :
\nd in did come the strangest figure !
His queer long coat from heel to head
/Vas half of yellow and half of red ;
Vnd he himself was tall and thin, 20^
Vith sharp blue eyes, each like a pin,
^nd light loose hair, yet swarthy skin,
Jo tuft on cheek nor beard on chin,
>ut lips where smiles went out and in—
""here was no guessing-his kith and kin !
jid nobody could enough admire
'he tall man and his quaint attire.
Kioth one : " It's as my great grandsire,
Parting up at the Trump of Doom's tone,
ad walked this way from his painted tomb-stone ! "
e advanced to the council-table : 31
id, " Please your honours," said he, " I'm able,
r means of a secret charm, to draw
All creatures living beneath the sun,
That creep or swim or fly or run,
60