Lords of creation, whom your ladies rule,

The world's great masters, when you're out of school, —
Learn the brief moral of our evening's play:
Man has his will, — but woman has her way!
While man's dull spirit toils in smoke and fire,
Woman's swift instinct threads the electric wire, —
The magic bracelet stretched beneath the waves
Beats the black giant with his score of slaves.
All earthly powers confess your sovereign art
But that one rebel, - woman's wilful heart.
All foes you master; but a woman's wit
Lets daylight through you ere you know you're hit.
So, just to picture what her art can do,
Hear an old story, made as good as new.

Rudolph, professor of the headsman's trade,
Alike was famous for his arm and blade.
One day a prisoner Justice had to kill
Knelt at the block to test the artist's skill.
Bare-armed, swart-visaged, gaunt, and shaggy-browed,
Rudolph the headsman rose above the crowd.
His falchion lightened with a sudden gleam,
As the pike's armor flashes in the stream.
He sheathed his blade; he turned as if to go;
The victim knelt, still waiting for the blow.

K

"Why strikest not? Perform thy murderous act," The prisoner said. (His voice was slightly cracked.) "Friend, I have struck," the artist straight replied; “Wait but one moment, and yourself decide." He held his snuff-box,-"Now then, if you please!" The prisoner sniffed, and, with a crashing sneeze, Off his head tumbled, bowled along the floor,

Bounced down the steps; - the prisoner said no more!

Woman! thy falchion is a glittering eye;

If death lurk in it, O, how sweet to die!
Thou takest hearts as Rudolph took the head;

We die with love, and never dream we 're dead!

THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA.

A NIGHTMARE DREAM BY DAYLIGHT.

Do you know the Old Man of the Sea, of the Sea?
Have you met with that dreadful old man?
If you have n't been caught, you will be, you will be;
For catch you he must and he can.

He does n't hold on by your throat, by your throat,
As of old in the terrible tale;

But he grapples you tight by the coat, by the coat,
Till its buttons and button-holes fail.

There's the charm of a snake in his eye, in his eye,

And a polypus-grip in his hands ;

You cannot go back, nor get by, nor get by,

If you look at the spot where he stands.

O, you're grabbed! See his claw on your sleeve, on

your sleeve !

It is Sinbad's Old Man of the Sea!

You're a Christian, no doubt you believe, you believe: You're a martyr, whatever you be!

- Is the breakfast-hour past? They must wait, they must wait,

While the coffee boils sullenly down,

While the Johnny-cake burns on the grate, on the

grate,

And the toast is done frightfully brown.

Yes,

your

dinner will keep; let it cool, let it cool,

And Madam may worry and fret,

And children half-starved go to school, go to school;

He can't think of sparing you yet.

Hark! the bell for the train! "Come along! Come along!

For there is n't a second to lose."

"ALL ABOARD!" (He holds on.) "Fsht! ding-dong! Fsht! ding-dong!".

You can follow on foot, if you choose.

-There's a maid with a cheek like a peach, like a peach, That is waiting for you in the church ;

But he clings to your side like a leech, like a leech,

And

you leave

your

lost bride in the lurch.

-There's a babe in a fit,- hurry quick! hurry quick! To the doctor's as fast as you can!

The baby is off, while you stick, while

In the grip of the dreadful Old Man!

you stick,

- I have looked on the face of the Bore, of the Bore; The voice of the Simple I know;

I have welcomed the Flat at my door, at my door;

I have sat by the side of the Slow;

I have walked like a lamb by the friend, by the friend, That stuck to my skirts like a burr ;

I have borne the stale talk without end, without end, Of the sitter whom nothing could stir :

But my hamstrings grow loose, and I shake, and I shake,

At the sight of the dreadful Old Man ;

Yea, I quiver and quake, and I take, and I take,
To my legs with what vigor I can!

O the dreadful Old Man of the Sea, of the Sea!
He's come back like the Wandering Jew!
He has had his cold claw upon me, upon me,
And be sure that he 'll have it on you!