Successful Recitations Part 16

"'Twas cruel, Sir John, to send us here, So far from help and home, To starve and freeze on this lonely sea: I ween, the Lord of the Admiralty Would rather send than come."

"Oh! whether we starve to death alone, Or sail to our own country, We have done what man has never done-- The truth is found, the secret won-- We pa.s.sed the Northern Sea!"

PHADRIG CROHOORE.

BY JAMES SHERIDAN LE FANU.

Oh, Phadrig Crohoore was a broth of a boy, And he stood six feet eight; And his arm was as round as another man's thigh,-- 'Tis Phadrig was great.

His hair was as black as the shadows of night, And it hung over scars got in many a fight.

And his voice, like the thunder, was deep, strong, and loud, And his eye flashed like lightning from under a cloud,-- And there wasn't a girl from thirty-five under, Sorra matter how cross, but he could come round her; But of all whom he smiled on so sweetly, but one Was the girl of his heart, and he loved her alone.

As warm as the sun, as the rock firm and sure, Was the love of the heart of young Phadrig Crohoore.

He would die for a smile from his Kathleen O'Brien, For his love, like his hatred, was strong as a lion.

But one Michael O'Hanlon loved Kathleen as well As he hated Crohoore--and that same I can tell.

And O'Brien liked him, for they were all the same parties-- The O'Hanlons, O'Briens, O'Ryans, M'Carthies; And they all went together in hating Crohoore, For many's the bating he gave them before.

So O'Hanlon makes up to O'Brien, and says he: "I'll marry your daughter if you'll give her to me."

So the match was made up, and when Shrovetide came on The company a.s.sembled--three hundred if one!

The O'Hanlon's, of course, turned out strong on that day, And the pipers and fiddlers were tearing away; There was laughing, and roaring, and jigging, and flinging, And joking and blessing, and kissing and singing, And they were all merry; why not, to be sure, That O'Hanlon got inside of Phadrig Crohoore; And they all talked and laughed, the length of the table, Aiting and drinking while they were able-- With the piping and fiddling, and roaring like thunder, Och! you'd think your head fairly was splitting asunder; And the priest shouted, "Silence, ye blabblers, agin,"

And he took up his prayer-book and was going to begin, And they all held their funning, and jigging, and bawling, So silent, you'd notice the smallest pin falling; And the priest was beginning to read, when the door Was flung back to the wall, and in walked Crohoore.

Oh! Phadrig Crohoore was a broth of a boy, And he stood six feet eight; His arm was as big as another man's thigh,-- 'Tis Phadrig was great.

As he walked slowly up, watched by many a bright eye, As a dark cloud moves on through the stars in the sky-- None dared to oppose him, for Phadrig was great, Till he stood, all alone, just in front of the seat Where O'Hanlon and Kathleen, his beautiful bride, Were seated together, the two side by side.

He looked on Kathleen till her poor heart near broke, Then he turned to her father, O'Brien, and spoke, And his voice, like the thunder, was deep, strong, and loud, And his eyes flashed like lightning from under a cloud:

"I did not come here like a tame, crawling mouse; I stand like a man, in my enemy's house.

In the field, on the road, Phadrig never knew fear Of his foemen, and G.o.d knows he now scorns it here.

I ask but your leave, for three minutes or four, To speak to the girl whom I ne'er may see more."

Then he turned to Kathleen, and his voice changed its tone, For he thought of the days when he called her his own; And said he, "Kathleen, bawn, is it true what I hear-- Is this match your free choice, without threat'ning or fear?

If so, say the word, and I'll turn and depart-- Cheated once, but once only, by woman's false heart."

Oh! sorrow and love made the poor girl quite dumb; She tried hard to speak, but the words wouldn't come, For the sound of his voice, as he stood there fornint her, Struck cold on her heart, like the night-wind in winter, And the tears in her blue eyes were trembling to flow, And her cheeks were as pale as the moonbeams on snow.

Then the heart of bold Phadrig swelled high in its place, For he knew by one look in that beautiful face, That though strangers and foemen their pledged hands might sever, Her heart was still his, and his only, for ever.

Then he lifted his voice, like an eagle's hoa.r.s.e call, And cried out--"She is mine yet, in spite of ye all."

But up jumped O'Hanlon, and a tall chap was he, And he gazed on bold Phadrig as fierce as could be; And says he--"By my fathers, before you go out, Bold Phadrig Crohoore, you must stand for a bout."

Then Phadrig made answer--"I'll do my endeavour;"

And with one blow he stretched out O'Hanlon for ever!

Then he caught up his Kathleen, and rushed to the door, He leaped on his horse, and he swung her before; And they all were so bothered that not a man stirred Till the galloping hoofs on the pavement were heard.

Then up they all started, like bees in a swarm, And they riz a great shout, like the burst of a storm; And they ran, and they jumped, and they shouted galore; But Phadrig or Kathleen they never saw more.

But those days are gone by, and his, too, are o'er, And the gra.s.s it grows over the grave of Crohoore, For he wouldn't be aisy or quiet at all; As he lived a brave boy, he resolved so to fall, So he took a good pike--for Phadrig was great-- And he died for old Ireland in the year ninety-eight.

CUPID'S ARROWS.

BY ELIZA COOK.

Young Cupid went storming to Vulcan one day, And besought him to look at his arrow; "'Tis useless," he cried, "you must mend it, I say, 'Tisn't fit to let fly at a sparrow.

There's something that's wrong in the shaft or the dart, For it flutters quite false to my aim; 'Tis an age since it fairly went home to the heart, And the world really jests at my name.

"I have straighten'd, I've bent, I've tried all, I declare, I've perfumed it with sweetest of sighs; 'Tis feather'd with ringlets my mother might wear, And the barb gleams with light from young eyes; But it falls without touching--I'll break it, I vow, For there's Hymen beginning to pout; He's complaining his torch burns so dull and so low, That Zephyr might puff it right out."

Little Cupid went on with his pitiful tale, Till Vulcan the weapon restored; "There, take it, young sir; try it now--if it fail, I will ask neither fee nor reward."

The urchin shot out, and rare havoc he made, The wounded and dead were untold; But no wonder the rogue had such slaughtering trade, For the arrow was laden with _gold_.

THE CROCODILE'S DINNER PARTY.

BY E. VINTON BLAKE.

_FROM "GOOD CHEER_."

A wily crocodile Who dwelt upon the Nile, Bethought himself one day to give a dinner.

"Economy," said he, "Is chief of all with me, And shall considered be--as I'm a sinner!"

With paper, pen and ink, He sat him down to think; And first of all, Sir Lion he invited; The northern wolf who dwells In rocky Arctic dells; The Leopard and the Lynx, by blood united.

Then Mr. Fox the shrewd-- No lover he of good-- And Madam Duck with sober step and stately; And Mr. Frog serene In garb of bottle green, Who warbled ba.s.s, and bore himself sedately.

Sir Crocodile, content, The invitations sent.

The day was come--his guests were all a.s.sembled; They fancied that some guile Lurked in his ample smile; Each on the other looked, and somewhat trembled.

A lengthy time they wait Their hunger waxes great; And still the host in conversation dallies.

At last the table's laid, With covered dishes spread, And out in haste the hungry party sallies.

But when--the covers raised-- On empty plates they gazed, Each on the other looked with dire intention; Ma'am Duck sat last of all, And Mr. Frog was small;-- She softly swallowed him, and made no mention!

This Mr. Fox perceives, And saying, "By your leaves, Some punishment is due for this transgression."

He gobbled her in haste, Then much to his distaste, By Mr. Lynx was taken in possession!

The Wolf without a pause, In spite of teeth and claws, Left nothing of the Lynx to tell the story; The Leopard all irate At his relation's fate, Made mince meat of that wolfish monster h.o.a.ry.

The Lion raised his head; "Since I am king," he said, "It ill befits the king to lack his dinner!"

Then on the Leopard sprang, With might of claw and fang, And made a meal upon that spotted sinner!--

Then saw in sudden fear Sir Crocodile draw near, And heard him speak, with feelings of distraction; "Since all of you have dined Well suited to your mind, You surely cannot grudge _me_ satisfaction!"