shape is so slender and bright!
“Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
“Ain’t you pleased with my song?”

  III. “Alas! Mrs. Broom!” sighed the Tongs in his song,
“O is it because I’m so thin,
“And my legs are so long—Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
“That you don’t care about me a pin?
“Ah! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room,
“Ah! why don’t you heed my complaint?
“Must you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom,
“Because you are covered with paint?
“Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
“You are certainly wrong!”   IV. Mrs. Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang,
“What nonsense you’re singing to-day!”
Said the Shovel, “I’ll certainly hit you a bang!”
Said the Broom, “And I’ll sweep you away!”
So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could,
Perceiving their anger with pain;
But they put on the kettle, and little by little
They all became happy again.
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
There’s an end of my song!

 

 

 

 

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THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO.

I.

Said the Duck to the Kangaroo, “Good gracious! how you hop! Over the fields and the water too, As if you never would stop! My life is a bore in this nasty pond, And I long to go out in the world beyond! I wish I could hop like you!” Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.

 

 

 

II.

“Please give me a ride on your back!” Said the Duck to the Kangaroo. “I would sit quite still, and say nothing but ‘Quack,’ The whole of the long day through! And we’d go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee, Over the land, and over the sea;— Please take me a ride! O do!” Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.

III.

Said the Kangaroo to the Duck, “This requires some little reflection; Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck, And there seems but one objection, Which is, if you’ll let me speak so bold, Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold, And would probably give me the roo- Matiz!” said the Kangaroo.

 

 

 

 

IV.

Said the Duck, “As I sat on the rocks, I have thought over that completely, And I bought four pairs of worsted socks Which fit my web-feet neatly. And to keep out the cold I’ve bought a cloak, And every day a cigar I’ll smoke, All to follow my own dear true Love of a Kangaroo!”

V.

Said the Kangaroo, “I’m ready! All in the moonlight pale; But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady! And quite at the end of my tail!” So away they went with a hop and a bound, And they hopped the whole world three times round; And who so happy,—O who, As the Duck and the Kangaroo?

 

 

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THE CUMMERBUND.

AN INDIAN POEM.

I.

She Sat Upon her Dobie,[1] To watch the Evening Star, And all the Punkahs[2] as they passed Cried, “My! how fair you are!” Around her bower, with quivering leaves, The tall Kamsamahs[3] grew, And Kitmutgars[4] in wild festoons Hung down from Tchokis[5] blue.

II.

Below her home the river rolled With soft meloobious sound, Where golden-finned Chuprassies[6] swam, In myriads circling round. Above, on tallest trees remote,