A POLITICAL FABLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 58, 11 March 1867, Page 2

A POLITICAL FABLE.

SCRATCHED RV AN OLD COCK. One who in poultry would invest, To market went. He found the best Had gone. Annoyed, he looked distrest For better. A young and cheeky bantam cock, And an old hen, composed the stock ; They seemed to him but left to mock His wishes. He asked their merits. " You must know This bantam stands A 1 to crow ; He's training for our ' little go,' This month, sir. No one can say that cock won't fight; In impudence he stands full height; A well-known cocker he knocked quite In two twos. And that old hen don't think that she E'er once forsook her family ; They have forsaken her, you see, A short time. It's true she's speckled, grey and white, And not so charming to the sight; Yet, still, her incubation's right — She sits much. At yon big house, from 10 each day, You oft may see her scratch away : The Waste Lands took her oft that way Before this. She's made it known, as plain as she Could tell us comprehensively, That there at least she'd like to be For four years. But that young bantnm tries to drive Her from the spot, (their friends connive,) And this, I think, will help to rive Good feeling. In bill and clause they both agree, And both roost under one big tree, ('Tis not the tree of liberty.) Come, take one I" "Take ?" he exclaimed ; "a good take-in ! For neither do I care a pin !" " One," said the man, with horrid grin, "You raws* have, Whether you wid it, sir, or no. So opposite things often go, That p'raps full soon this hen will crow The loudest. And though to either you say nay, Just mark my words, some future day, One you must have, and you must pay To feed it!"