JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

            I sing the deeds of famous Jack,
                The doughty Giant Killer hight;
            How he did various monsters "whack,"
                And so became a gallant knight.

             In Arthur's days of splendid fun
                (His Queen was Guenever the Pliant),—
             Ere Britain's sorrows had begun;
                When every cave contained its giant;

             When griffins fierce as bats were rife;
                 And till a knight had slain his dragon,
              At trifling risk of limbs and life,
                He did n't think he'd much to brag on;

     When wizards o'er the welkin flew;
     Ere science had devised balloon;
     And 'twas a common thing to view
     A fairy ballet by the moon;—

     Our hero played his valiant pranks;
     Earned loads of kudos, vulgô glory,
     A lady, "tin," and lots of thanks;—
         Relate, oh Muse! his wondrous story.