Select Poetry.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 44, 25 November 1871, Page 17

Select Poetry.

THE FAMOUS CABINET. There was a famous Cabinet, Of talent and renown, It was loved by all the people, It was worshipped by the Crown, It swore to rid the country Of Tory craft and wrong — 0 never such a Cabinet Was known in a tale or song. At its head was ardent Gladstone, In its midst the thrifty Lowe, O’er its army gallant Cardwell To terrify the foe : Its JEdile tasteful Ayrton. Its Lictor stringent Bruce, To quell the yeasty rabble And to make the cabman spruce. Next came the playful Granville, Ruling Europe with a smile, And the ever-verdant Halifax, And omniscent Argyll. There was Northbrook, Coleridge, Forster, Hatlierley, and Stansfeld eke, And the weather-beaten Gosclien To guard the “ silver streak.” Lowe was to pare our taxes By the wicked Tories planned j Goschen, with tranquil trident, To rule the sea and strand ; Granvillo to baffle Bismark, Make Gortsehakoff to fear, And the stringent Bruce to clean the sluce That robs us of our beer. Forster of foul corruption Would make an end complete, And every chap without a rap Should find a borough seat. Cardwell would have an army, Prompt or to march or to fight, And the Heaven-descended Gladstone Do everything that’s right. Alas! for broken promises ! Alas! for vows forsworn ! Better for such a Cabinet That it had ne’er been born ! Better for us had Granville Stuck to his flocks and herds ; And better that pious Gladstone Had written for Good Wo.'ds ! For Lowe had piled fresh burdens Upon our weary backs, Would pounce upon our matches, And has raised our income tax. Bruce leaves our beer and “ growlers” As bad as bad can be ; And Goschen has sent the Captain To the bottom of the sea. Ayrton, our tastefnl JEdile, Has spoilt our pretty park, And left the rest to Bradlaugh And the roughs that want a lark, Granville has danced and simpered Politely round the helm, And has smiled away profusely The honor of the Realm. And Forster, trusted Forster, Has spared the rich man’s gold, And, having got the ballot, Leaves poor Odger in the cold. And as for Cardwell’s army— Was ever such a tale?— Ib can neither move, nor battle With the “ equinoctial gale - ” And the Heaven-descended Gladstone Has quarrelled with Gie Peers, And has wrecked the Constitution ' That has stood a thousand years. And this ever famous Cabinet, That was trusted by the Crown, And was loved by all the people, Is the laughter of the town. —“ Standard.”