rridges neither, wus luck! Penny Fares ain't
no crimes,
If you arsk me, as did ought to know. Which my feelings I own it does rouge
To hear big-wigs a-sneering at 'Buses. There may be a bit of a scrouge,
And the smell of damp straw mixed with pep'mint ain't nice to a dalicot
nose,
Likeways neat "Oh be Joyful's" a thing as with orange and snuff hardly
goes.
But we ain't all rekerky nor rich, we can't all afford sixpence a mile,
And when we are old, late, and tired, or it's wet, we can't think about
_style_.
The 'Bus is the poor body's kerridge, young feller--and as for your talk
About not never missing a lift, or forgetting--dear sakes!--_how_ to walk,
And the nice quiet streets and all that; why it's clear _you_ ain't been
a poor clerk
With a precious small "screw," in wet weather. Ah! you wouldn't find it
no lark
With thin boots and a 'ard 'acking cough, and three mile every day to and
thro',
Or a puffy old woman like me, out at Witsuntide wisiting JOE,
(My young son in the greengrocer line); or a governess, peaky and pale,
As has just overslep herself slightly, and can't git by cab or by rail.
"Ugly lumbering wehicles?" Ah! and we're ugly and lumbering too,
A lot of us poor Penny 'Bus fares, as isn't high-born or true-blue.
But the 'Bus is our help. Wery like some do ride as had far better walk,
Whether tip-toppy swells or poor shop-girls. But all that is trumpery talk.
What I arsk is, why shouldn't the 'Buses be kept a bit reglar, like Cabs,
In the matter of fares and of distances? Oh, a old woman it crabs
To hear of Perprietors pinching pore fellers as drive or conduck,
While the "Pirates" play up merry mag with the poor helpless fare, as gets
stuck
Betwixt Dividend-grinders and Strikers? It ought to be altered, _I_ say.
Whilst they talk of what 'Bus-folk should earn, they forget the pore
Publick--who _pay_!

* * * * *

LE PRINCE S'AMUSE.

_AN APOLOGETIC IDYL._

My life is held to be a round of Pleasures;
All I can say is, they who thus would rate it,
For life's delights have most peculiar measures:
For though in plainest English they don't state it,
'Tis clear "no recreation" meets their views,
Or why that sneering cry, "_Le Prince s'amuse?_"

Or do they think a Prince, without repining,
Foundation-stones unceasingly is laying,
Rewarded with a glut of pu