Successful Recitations Part 26

DEEDS NOT WORDS.

BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT.

The Captain stood on the carronade--first lieutenant, says he, Send all my merry men aft here, for they must list to me; I haven't the gift of the gab, my sons--because I'm bred to the sea; That s.h.i.+p there is a Frenchman, who means to fight with we.

Odds blood, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to sea, I've fought 'gainst every odds--but I've gained the victory.

That s.h.i.+p there is a Frenchman, and if we don't take _she_, 'Tis a thousand bullets to one, that she will capture _we_; I haven't the gift of the gab, my boys; so each man to his gun, If she's not mine in half an hour, I'll flog each mother's son.

Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to sea, I've fought 'gainst every odds--and I've gained the victory.

We fought for twenty minutes, when the Frenchman had enough I little thought, he said, that your men were of such stuff; The Captain took the Frenchman's sword, a low bow made to he; I haven't the gift of the gab, monsieur, but polite I wish to be.

Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to sea, I've fought 'gainst every odds--and I've gained the victory.

Our Captain sent for all of us; my merry men said he, I haven't the gift of the gab, my lads, but yet I thankful be: You've done your duty handsomely, each man stood to his gun; If you hadn't, you villains, as sure as day, I'd have flogged each mother's son.

Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, as long as I'm at sea, I'll fight 'gainst every odds--and I'll gain the victory.

OLD KING COLE.

BY ALFRED H. MILES.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, A merry old soul was he!

He would call for his pipe, he would call for his gla.s.s, He would call for his fiddlers three; With loving care and reason rare, He ruled his subjects true-- Who used to sing, "Long live the King!"

And He--"the people too!"

Old King Cole was a musical soul, A musical soul was he!

He used to boast what pleased him most Was nothing but fiddle-de-dee!

But his pipe and his gla.s.s he loved--alas!

As much as his fiddlers three, And by time he was done with the other and the one, He was pretty well done, was he!

Old King Cole was a kingly soul, A kingly soul was he!

He governed well, the records tell, The brave, the fair, the free; He used to say, by night and day, "I rule by right divine!

My subjects free belong to me, And all that's theirs is mine!"

Old King Cole was a worthy soul, A worthy soul was he!

From motives pure he tried to cure All greed and vanity; So if he found--the country round A slave to gold inclined, He would take it away, and bid him pray For a more contented mind.

Old King Cole was a good old soul, A good old soul was he!

And social life from civil strife He guarded royally, For when he caught the knaves who fought O'er houses, land, or store, He would take it himself, whether kind or pelf, That they shouldn't fall out any more.

Old King Cole was a thoughtful soul, A thoughtful soul was he!

And he said it may be, if they all agree, They may all disagree with me.

I must organise routs and tournament bouts, And open a Senate, said he; Play the outs on the ins and the ins on the outs, And the party that wins wins me.

So Old King Cole, const.i.tutional soul, (Const.i.tutional soul was he)!

With royal nous, a parliament house He built for his people free.

And they talked all day and they talked all night, And they'd die, but they wouldn't agree Until black was white, and wrong was right, And he said, "It works to a T."

Old King Cole was a gay old soul, A gay old soul was he!

If he chanced to meet a maiden sweet, He'd be sure to say "kitchi kitchi kee;"

And then if her papa, her auntie or mamma, Should suddenly appear upon the scene, He would put the matter straight with an office in the state If they'd promise not to go and tell the queen.

Old Queen Cole was a dear old soul, A dear old soul was she!

Her hair was as red as a rose--'tis said-- Her eyes were as green as a pea; At beck and call for rout and ball, She won the world's huzzahs.

At fetes and plays and matinees Receptions and bazaars.

When Old King Cole, with his pipe and bowl, At a smoking concert presided, His queen would be at a five-o'clock tea, At the palace where she resided; And so they governed, ruled, and reigned, O'er subjects great and small, And never was heard a seditious word In castle, cot, or hall.

THE GREEN DOMINO.

In the latter part of the reign of Louis XV. of France the masquerade was an entertainment in high estimation, and was often given, at an immense cost, on court days, and such occasions of rejoicing. As persons of all ranks might gain admission to these spectacles, provided they could afford the purchase of the ticket, very strange _rencontres_ frequently took place at them, and exhibitions almost as curious, in the way of disguise or a.s.sumption of character. But perhaps the most whimsical among the genuine surprises recorded at any of these spectacles was that which occurred in Paris on the 15th of October, on the day when the Dauphin (son of Louis XV.) attained the age of one-and-twenty.

At this fete, which was of a peculiarly glittering character--so much so, that the details of it are given at great length by the historians of the day--the strange demeanour of a man in a green domino, early in the evening, excited attention. This mask, who showed nothing remarkable as to figure--though tall, rather, and of robust proportion--seemed to be gifted with an _appet.i.te_, not merely past human conception, but pa.s.sing the fancies of even romance.

The dragon of old, who churches ate (He used to come on a Sunday), Whole congregations were to him But a dish of Salmagundi,--

he was but a nibbler--a mere fool--to this stranger of the green domino. He pa.s.sed from chamber to chamber--from table to table of refreshments--not tasting, but devouring--devastating--all before him. At one board he despatched a fowl, two-thirds of a ham, and half-a-dozen bottles of champagne; and, the very next moment, he was found seated in another apartment performing the same feat, with a stomach better than at first. This strange course went on until the company (who at first had been amused by it) became alarmed and tumultuous.

"Is it the same mask--or are there several dressed alike?" demanded an officer of guards as the green domino rose from a seat opposite to him and quitted the apartment.

"I have seen but one--and, by Heaven, here he is again," exclaimed the party to whom the query was addressed.

The green domino spoke not a word, but proceeded straight to the vacant seat which he had just left, and again commenced supping, as though he had fasted for the half of a campaign.

At length the confusion which this proceeding created became universal; and the cause reached the ear of the Dauphin.

"He is the very devil, your highness!" exclaimed an old n.o.bleman--"saving your Highness's presence--or wants but a tail to be so!"

"Say, rather he should be some famished poet, by his appet.i.te,"

replied the Prince, laughing. "But there must be some juggling; he spills all his wine, and hides the provisions under his robe."

Even while they were speaking, the green domino entered the room in which they were talking, and, as usual, proceeded to the table of refreshments.

"See here, my lord!" cried one--"I have seen him do this thrice!"