inly on vacation
Tries to find recuperation,
Till he hunts his happy home
Tuckered out.

That abroad there is no comfort,
That a man must journey home for 't--
You have heard that whiskered wheeze,
Have you not?
'Tis a commonplace to cavil
At the "luxuries of travel,"
For in travel lack of ease
Is your lot.

You have heard that gag historic;
It was often sprung by Yorick;
It's as old as Noah's ark
And its crew.
It's the commonest (at basis)
Of all common commonplaces;--
So I merely would remark
That--it's true.

THE BARDS WE QUOTE

Whene'er I quote I seldom take
From bards whom angel hosts environ;
But usually some damned rake
Like Byron.

Of Whittier I think a lot,
My fancy to him often turns;
But when I quote 'tis some such sot
As Burns.

I'm very fond of Bryant, too,
He brings to me the woodland smelly;
Why should I quote that "village roo,"
P. Shelley?

I think Felicia Hemans great,
I dote upon Jean Ingelow;
Yet quote from such a reprobate
As Poe.

To quote from drunkard or from rake
Is not a proper thing to do.
I find the habit hard to break,
Don't you?

THE PERSISTENT POET

"I remember, I remember"--
Something special? Not a bit.
But, you see, this is November,
And Remember rimes with it.

HENCE THESE RIMES

Tho' my verse is exact,
Tho' it flawlessly flows,
As a matter of fact
I would rather write prose.

While my harp is in tune,
And I sing like the birds,
I would really as soon
Write in straightaway words.

Tho' my songs are as sweet
As Apollo e'er piped,
And my lines are as neat
As have ever been typed,

I would rather write prose--
I prefer it to rime;
It's less hard to compose,
And it takes me less time.

"Well, if that be the case,"
You are moved to inquire,
"Why appropriate space
For extolling your lyre?"

I can only reply
That this form I elect
'Cause it pleases the eye,
And I like the effect.

THE OLD ROLLER TOWEL

How dear to this heart is the old roller towel
Which fond recollection present