CHARADES ON UNPOPULAR SUBJECTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 428, 10 December 1856, Page 3

CHARADES ON UNPOPULAR SUBJECTS.

(No. 0.)

" Look oa this pictnre, and on this." I slept—and back to England's shore My gladsome fancy roved; And my free feet trod hcrdaisied sod Mid the scones and the friends I loved : And I marvelled much at each proof of mitrht, For, so long unseen, each common sight — Each road, and carriage, and .gas lamp bright Was a wonder fresh for me ; But the marvel that loft me dumb-foundered quite "Was a genuine May Fair Exquisite, With his shiny boots, and his hand so white, And his wondrous self-elation; And his coat (oh ! garment of little ease !), So guiltless of wrinklo, line, or crease, That he might have been from, nose to knees Done up in boards—like :i bungling piece Of Colonial legislation! In sooth this Knight of ladies gay, This kind of carpet Bayard Was scented and curled in such a way That at sight of him my thoughts would stray Far back to Assyria's palmy day And my first, us described in Tennyson's lay, Or " imported neat" by I.ayard. Once more I dreamed, and now ncaia I (Stood on our Canterbury Fluiu ; Ho stood beside me there. B.'U oh! how changed ; where that bright vest ? '■•tt faultless coat and padded chest? Bad echo answers •' Where ? " Gone is his hat so tall and trim, A wide awake witb half a brim Conceals my second now ; As broken in fortune, but stout of limb, (For niisfortuuo ban made :i man of him !) Ho drives my «\Wehis bread to win, Or sometimes speeds the plough. And " Oh ;" he cries, " thut our Government roads " Were like our Government laws ! " For in them you can drive your couch and six " With ease through every clause"; " While in these my dray with its team of ten "jls doomed to stick and pause; " Till I wish our Councillor* wisewero hero " To enjoy this muss they cause ; "No help would I :;ivi) but a loud Hear ! fieri r < " And 'laughter ' svud ' muc.'i applause.' "