As through the throng on either hand "Go!"—Through his ear the summons stung As if a battle-trump had rung; The slumbering instincts long unstirred It thrills like flame through every limb,— Before the quarter pole was past, The gravel flying in his track, His neck stretched out, his ears laid back, His tail extended all the while 8. He'll lose his hold-he sways and reels- That pace can't hold—there! steady! whoa !" He's having out three heats in one! "Don't rush in front! he'll smash your brains; Lover of Lenore. After his death the lover of Lenore appeared a black horse and carried Lenore to the graveyard where their marriage was celebrated amid a crew of howling goblins. on 9. Like Hector. After being slain by Achilles, Hector was dragged three times around the walls of Troy. Budd Doble's nag begins to fail! That trot no mortal could explain; "The time was two-too dee-vel-ish fast!" The parson's horse had won the bet; I should n't wonder, I declare, If brother-Jehu-made the prayer!" And this is all I have to say Moral for which this tale is told: 40 THE BALLAD OF THE OYSTERMAN OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES It was a tall young oysterman lived by the riverside, His shop was just upon the bank, his boat was on the tide; The daughter of a fisherman, that was so straight and slim, Lived over on the other bank, right opposite to him. It was the pensive oysterman that saw a lovely maid, Upon a moonlight evening, a-sitting in the shade; He saw her wave a handkerchief, as much as if to say, "I'm wide awake, young oysterman, and all the folks away." Then up arose the oysterman, and to himself said he, "I guess I'll leave the skiff at home, for fear that folks should see; I read it in the story book, that, for to kiss his dear, Leander swam the Hellespont 1-and I will swim this here." And he has leaped into the waves, and crossed the shining stream, And he has clambered up the bank, all in the moonlight gleam; Oh, there are kisses sweet as dew, and words as soft as rain But they have heard her father's steps, and in he leaps again! 1. Leander. To see Hero, Leander nightly swam the Hellespont, but was finally drowned. In her grief Hero then drowned herself. Out spoke the ancient fisherman: “Oh, what was that, my daughter?" 66 'Twas nothing but a pebble, sir, I threw into the water." "And what is that, pray tell me, love, that paddles off so fast?" "It's nothing but a porpoise, sir, that's been a-swimming past." Out spoke the ancient fisherman: "Now bring me my harpoon! I'll get into my fishing boat, and fix the fellow soon." Down fell the pretty innocent, as falls a snow-white lamb; Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks, like seaweed on a clam. Alas for those two loving ones! she waked not from her swound, And he was taken with the cramp, and in the waves was drowned; But Fate has metamorphosed them, in pity of their woe, And now they keep an oyster shop for mermaids down below. 41 THE YARN OF THE NANCY BELL WILLIAM SCHWENCK GILBERT 'Twas on the shores that round our coast 1 From Deal to Ramsgate 1 span, That I found alone on a piece of stone An elderly naval man. 1. Deal, Ramsgate. Seaport towns in Kent County, England. |