POETRY.
ARBITRATION.
HE cum and punched me on the nose, and he punched me in
the eye, And either luvly horgan luk'd swollen and awry ; And Marianne, she looked at me with a disdainful air, And sed, "Where is yer sperrit, John? Ye're not the man ye were."
Then my old friend cum bask to me, and, smiling, stretched his hand, Sez he, "I never meant no harm, as of course you'll under- stand : And on yer mind, and in yer heart, if any doubt remain, Let's go to harbitrashun, John, and make all straight again."
Sez I, " My young friend, William, Sir, yer words is kind an' true; An harbitrasbun's good for them whose nose is not askew; But first (I lake to Marianne) we'll o' this chap be rid, And then for harbitrashun !" and—I went for him, I did.
Then off with coats, we laid 'm down ; we punched each other sore ; We punched each other all that day, till we could punch no more : Then we agreed to harbitrate, he, William, and me, John : But a thief had cum and stole our coats, and—Marianne was gone !
A. G. B.
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