Gentlemen quite old,

Asking for the news; Gentlemen in black,

In a fit of blues; Gentlemen in claret,

Sober as a vicar; Gentlemen in tweed,

Dreadfully in liquor!

Stranger on the right,

Looking very sunny,

Obviously reading

Something rather funny. Now the smiles are thicker,

Wonder what they mean? Faith, he's got the KnickerBocker Magazine!

Stranger on the left,

Closing up his peepers

Now he snores amain,

Like the seven sleepers;

At his feet a volume

Gives the explanation, How the man grew stupid

From "association!"

Ancient maiden lady

Anxiously remarks

That there must be peril

'Mong so many sparks; Roguish-looking fellow,

Turning to the stranger,

Says 'tis his opinion

She is out of danger!

Woman with her baby
Sitting vis-a-vis;
Baby keeps a-squalling,

Woman looks at me;

Asks about the distance;

Says, 'tis tiresome talking,

Noises of the car

Are so very shocking!

Market woman, careful

Of the precious casket,
Knowing eggs are eggs,

Tightly holds her basket;
Feeling that a smash,

If it came, would surely Send her eggs to pot,

Rather prematurely!

Singing through the forests,

Rattling over ridges,
Shooting under arches,

Rumbling over bridges,

Whizzing through the mountains,
Buzzing o'er the vale,
Bless me! this is pleasant,

Riding on the rail!

After.

E know that when the clouds look darkest

And spread their shade around

If we could look beyond their portals,

The sunshine would be found.

And when the storm beats o'er us fiercely,
Crushing our flowers to earth—

That when the tempest's reign is over
They will have fairer birth.

So, when life's res almost o'erwhelm us,
And we sink dow dismayed,

When hope's fair promises all fail us,

And even trust betrayed-
Fairer for having been o'ershadowed,

Our blessings will shine forth

After the storm is over. Its coming

Has proved true friendship's worth.