Shapes of Clay

  His equal as a lover. O,
  My God! I shall be drowned in woe!'
  'What! Prince di Giu has died!' exclaimed
  The honest man for letters famed,
  The while he pocketed her gold;
  'Of what'?—if I may be so bold.'
  Fresh storms of tears the lady shed:
  'I stabbed him fifty times,' she said.

AN INSCRIPTION

FOR A STATUE OF NAPOLEON, AT WEST POINT.

  A famous conqueror, in battle brave,
  Who robbed the cradle to supply the grave.
  His reign laid quantities of human dust:
  He fell upon the just and the unjust.

A PICKBRAIN.

  What! imitate me, friend? Suppose that you
  With agony and difficulty do
  What I do easily—what then? You've got
  A style I heartily wish I had not.
  If I from lack of sense and you from choice
  Grieve the judicious and the unwise rejoice,
  No equal censure our deserts will suit—
  We both are fools, but you're an ape to boot!

CONVALESCENT.

    'By good men's prayers see Grant restored!'
    Shouts Talmage, pious creature!
  Yes, God, by supplication bored
    From every droning preacher,
  Exclaimed: 'So be it, tiresome crew—
  But I've a crow to pick with you.'

THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.

  He looked upon the ships as they
    All idly lay at anchor,
  Their sides with gorgeous workmen gay—
    The riveter and planker—
  Republicans and Democrats,
    Statesmen and politicians.
  He saw the swarm of prudent rats
    Swimming for land positions.
  He marked each 'belted cruiser' fine,
    Her poddy life-belts floating
  In tether where the hungry brine
    Impinged upon her coating.
  He noted with a proud regard,
    As any of his class would,
  The poplar mast and poplar yard
    Above the hull of bass-wood.
  He saw the Eastlake frigate tall,
    With quaintly carven gable,
  Hip-roof and dormer-window—all
    With ivy formidable.
  In short, he saw our country's hope
    In best of all conditions—
  Equipped, to the last spar and rope,
    By working politicians.
  He boarded then the noblest ship
    And from the harbor glided.
  'Adieu, adieu!' fell from his lip.
    Verdict: 'He suicided.'
1881.

DETECTED.