A LAMENT FROM QUEEN-SQUARE BLOOMSBURY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 108, 13 February 1872, Page 3

A LAMENT FROM QUEEN-SQUARE BLOOMSBURY.

By the “ Inimitable” Thatcher. November fog shuts out the view The wind’s due east to-day, Tbc sun’s retired from business, and He sends no genial ray ; And, worst, of all, New Zealand lies Thousands of miles away 1 look at the window here, Four sparrows I can see : Three of them hop about the ground, And one is “up the tree,’ And in this figurative sense He thus resembles me. I shiver in my cheerless room My thoughts to Auckland fly. And for the land that’s far away i somehow seem to sigh. Why do L feel so sad, and why This moisture in the eye 1 Oh for a sight of that bine sky The balmy southern summer The heavenly zephyrs too that kiss The check of each new comer, The adopted home of Polly Plum The prison-breaking Plummer. What’s Fleet-street or the Strand to me, Or e'en Trafalgar Square! And Oxford-street, where horses fall And angry cabmen swear, While country reverends passing by With pious horror stare. The weather’s vile—l can’t go out; I sigh and look around. The yellow leaves with every gust , Go whirling o'er the ground, As to myself the following Conundrums I propound : Does Grombie still take photographs Or hold his head so high, And when asked for a negative Give a negative reply 7 How are Long Drives, and is it safe Caledonians to buy ? The Citv Board—but pr’aps they’re called The City Conned now : Docs Touks, to the suggestion of The stout Macros dy bow, And Atkin get his back up and With Hampton, have a row ? Do Smart and Asher sit and have A quiet hit of chaff ? Does Str.’vcs propose some monstrous thing That makes the Council laugh 7 And in the Borough Chamber have The hung his photograph 7 Docs Beckham still sit on the bench 7 And, to try and make him pleasant, Has any publican of late Made him a feathered present? Or do they fear ’twill be no go, As ’twas with Benstcad’s pheasant ? Unto the famous Manukan The ’busses now who runs 7 Do folks go lo that lovely spot Iu a trap of Hardingtou’s 7 And does the Reverend Kdgcr still Snub pious parsons’ sons ? Do the Thames Volunteers still slick To Lush (I. don’t mean wh.skcy) 7 Is getting credit now for clothes, A thing that’s rather risky 7 Can swells no more, like those of yore, Oct tick from Posscniskic 7 The railway, too, is that begun 7 Wake up, ye Auckland creepers, Hay will a line up to the North (soon open all our peepers ! And do they mean to lay down all The City Board for sleepers 7 Oh 1 have they caught Tc Kooli yet, By some new tangled plan? Does Nathan, junior, still upon The Bench delinquents sifiiu, And prophet-like point to them and Exclaim “ Thou art the man"’ 7 Is being found in boozy slate A five or ten bob crime? And have the folk forgotten quite Poor Thatcher’s local rhyme? And how far from the Now Town clock Can one make out the time ! How are my old newspaper friends ? Does bilious Creighton rub The Auckland folks iu leaded lines? Is Montrose still the “sub,” While little Utting goes about For “ pars” to cam his grub ? Who wields the mighty thunderbolts Up at the llcrald there ? Has dear Veil Stunner gone back To the editorial chair ! And does Brett, when a ship comes iu, Unto the wharf repair ? Does “ l’olly Blum” still in the Cross Complain of woman’s fetters, And claim a right to vote, and say That females are our betters 7 Ami docs “Old Practical ” still write Those long-winded letters 1 Do mining managers the poor Shareholders still kept diddling? And how's my old friend, Fenton 7 Is he quite well, or middling? And lias the gout again appeared To stop the Judge's liddliug? Have they lit up the Grafton Road ? 1 wonder, by-ihe-by. If gas illuminates the Thames ; And did they there rely On utilising Doctor Sam To furnish the supply ? * Theyj are some of the questions that So oft occur to me As i sit in my lonely room. In Queen-square, Bloomsbury. Bray answer them, and you'll oblige. Yours truly, * C. li. T, London, November, IG, 1871. — J), S. Cron,