"That's lucky-I'vc a message for the wench,
Which needs despatch, and you may save my labour;
Give her this kiss, my dear, and say I sent it,
But mind you owe me one. I've only lent it."
“She shall know," cried the girl, as she brandish'd her bough,
"Of the loving intentions you bore me;
But as to the kiss, as there's baste you'll allow,
That you'd better run forward and give it my cow;
For she, at the rate she is scampering now,
Will reach Acton some minutes before me."
ANON.
THE CLOWN AND THE COUNSELLOR.
A Counsel in the Common Pleas,
Who was esteem'd a mighty wit,
Upon the strength of a chance hit
Amid a thousand flippancies,
And his occasional bad jokes
In bullying, bantering, browbeating,
Ridiculing, and maltreating
Women or other timid folks,
In a late cause, resolved to hoax
Who, by his uncouth look and gait,
Appear'd expressly meant by Fate,
For being quizz'd and played upon.
So having tipped the wink to those
In the back rows,
Who kept their laughter bottled down
Until our wag should draw the cork,
He smiled jocosely on the clown,
And went to work.
"Well, Farmer Numskull, how go calves at York?'
"Why--not, Sir, as they do wi' yon,
But on four legs instead of two.".
"Officer !" cried the legal elf,
Piqued at the laugh against himself,
"Do, pray, keep silence down below there.
Now look at me, clown, and attend,
Have I not seen yon somewhere, friend?"-
"Yees-very like-I often go there."
"Our rustic's waggish-quite laconic,"
The Counsel cried, with grin sardonic;-
