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Were properly particular about the friends they made；
And somehow thus they settled it without a word of mouth …
That GRAY should take the northern half； while SOMERS took the
south。
On PETER'S portion oysters grew … a delicacy rare；
But oysters were a delicacy PETER couldn't bear。
On SOMERS' side was turtle； on the shingle lying thick；
Which SOMERS couldn't eat； because it always made him sick。
GRAY gnashed his teeth with envy as he saw a mighty store
Of turtle unmolested on his fellow…creature's shore。
The oysters at his feet aside impatiently he shoved；
For turtle and his mother were the only things he loved。
And SOMERS sighed in sorrow as he settled in the south；
For the thought of PETER'S oysters brought the water to his mouth。
He longed to lay him down upon the shelly bed； and stuff：
He had often eaten oysters； but had never had enough。
How they wished an introduction to each other they had had
When on board the BALLYSHANNON！ And it drove them nearly mad
To think how very friendly with each other they might get；
If it wasn't for the arbitrary rule of etiquette！
One day； when out a…hunting for the MUS RIDICULUS；
GRAY overheard his fellow…man soliloquizing thus：
〃I wonder how the playmates of my youth are getting on；
M'CONNELL； S。 B。 WALTERS； PADDY BYLES； and ROBINSON？〃
These simple words made PETER as delighted as could be；
Old chummies at the Charterhouse were ROBINSON and he！
He walked straight up to SOMERS； then he turned extremely red；
Hesitated； hummed and hawed a bit； then cleared his throat； and
said：
I beg your pardon … pray forgive me if I seem too bold；
But you have breathed a name I knew familiarly of old。
You spoke aloud of ROBINSON … I happened to be by。
You know him？〃 〃Yes； extremely well。〃 〃Allow me； so do I。〃
It was enough： they felt they could more pleasantly get on；
For （ah； the magic of the fact！） they each knew ROBINSON！
And Mr。 SOMERS' turtle was at PETER'S service quite；
And Mr。 SOMERS punished PETER'S oyster…beds all night。
They soon became like brothers from community of wrongs：
They wrote each other little odes and sang each other songs；
They told each other anecdotes disparaging their wives；
On several occasions； too； they saved each other's lives。
They felt quite melancholy when they parted for the night；
And got up in the morning soon as ever it was light；
Each other's pleasant company they reckoned so upon；
And all because it happened that they both knew ROBINSON！
They lived for many years on that inhospitable shore；
And day by day they learned to love each other more and more。
At last； to their astonishment； on getting up one day；
They saw a frigate anchored in the offing of the bay。
To PETER an idea occurred。 〃Suppose we cross the main？
So good an opportunity may not be found again。〃
And SOMERS thought a minute； then ejaculated； 〃Done！
I wonder how my business in the City's getting on？〃
〃But stay；〃 said Mr。 PETER： 〃when in England； as you know；
I earned a living tasting teas for BAKER； CROOP； AND CO。；
I may be superseded … my employers think me dead！〃
〃Then come with me；〃 said SOMERS； 〃and taste indigo instead。〃
But all their plans were scattered in a moment when they found
The vessel was a convict ship from Portland； outward bound；
When a boat came off to fetch them； though they felt it very kind；
To go on board they firmly but respectfully declined。
As both the happy settlers roared with laughter at the joke；
They recognized a gentlemanly fellow pulling stroke：
'Twas ROBINSON … a convict； in an unbecoming frock！
Condemned to seven years for misappropriating stock！！！
They laughed no more； for SOMERS thought he had been rather rash
In knowing one whose friend had misappropriated cash；
And PETER thought a foolish tack he must have gone upon
In making the acquaintance of a friend of ROBINSON。
At first they didn't quarrel very openly； I've heard；
They nodded when they met； and now and then exchanged a word：
The word grew rare； and rarer still the nodding of the head；
And when they meet each other now； they cut each other dead。
To allocate the island they agreed by word of mouth；
And PETER takes the north again； and SOMERS takes the south；
And PETER has the oysters； which he hates； in layers thick；
And SOMERS has the turtle … turtle always makes him sick。
Ballad： AT A PANTOMIME。 BY A BILIOUS ONE。
AN Actor sits in doubtful gloom；
His stock…in…trade unfurled；
In a damp funereal dressing…room
In the Theatre Royal； World。
He comes to town at Christmas…time；
And braves its icy breath；
To play in that favourite pantomime；
HARLEQUIN LIFE AND DEATH。
A hoary flowing wig his weird
Unearthly cranium caps；
He hangs a long benevolent beard
On a pair of empty chaps。
To smooth his ghastly features down
The actor's art he cribs； …
A long and a flowing padded gown。
Bedecks his rattling ribs。
He cries； 〃Go on … begin； begin！
Turn on the light of lime …
I'm dressed for jolly Old Christmas； in
A favourite pantomime！〃
The curtain's up … the stage all black …
Time and the year nigh sped …
Time as an advertising quack …
The Old Year nearly dead。
The wand of Time is waved； and lo！
Revealed Old Christmas stands；
And little children chuckle and crow；
And laugh and clap their hands。
The cruel old scoundrel brightens up
At the death of the Olden Year；
And he waves a gorgeous golden cup；
And bids the world good cheer。
The little ones hail the festive King； …
No thought can make them sad。
Their laughter comes with a sounding ring；
They clap and crow like mad！
They only see in the humbug old
A holiday every year；
And handsome gifts； and joys untold；
And unaccustomed cheer。
The old ones； palsied； blear； and hoar；
Their breasts in anguish beat …
They've seen him seventy times before；
How well they know the cheat！
They've seen that ghastly pantomime；
They've felt its blighting breath；
They know that rollicking Christmas…time
Meant Cold and Want and Death； …
Starvation … Poor Law Union fare …
And deadly cramps and chills；
And illness … illness everywhere；
And crime； and Christmas bills。
They know Old Christmas well； I ween；
Those men of ripened age；
They've often； often； often seen
That Actor off the stage！
They see in his gay rotundity
A clumsy stuffed…out dress …
They see in the cup he waves on high
A tinselled emptiness。
Those aged men so lean and wan；
They've seen it all before；
They know they'll see the charlatan
But twice or three times more。
And so they bear with dance and song；
And crimson foil and green；
They wearily sit； and grimly long
For the Transformation Scene。
Ballad： HAUNTED。
HAUNTED？ Ay； in a social way
By a body of ghosts in dread array；
But no conventional spectres they …
Appalling；