“Don’T You Smell Fire?”

I.

Run!--run for St. Clement’s engine! For the Pawnbroker’s all in a blaze, And the pledges are frying and singing-- Oh! how the poor pawners will craze! Now where can the turncock be drinking? Was there ever so thirsty an elf?-- But he still may tope on, for I’m thinking That the plugs are as dry as himself.

II.

The engines!--I hear them come rumbling; There’s the Phœnix! the Globe! and the Sun! What a row there will be, and a grumbling When the water don’t start for a run! See! there they come racing and tearing, All the street with loud voices is fill’d; Oh! its only the firemen a-swearing At a man they’ve run over and kill’d!

III.

How sweetly the sparks fly away now, And twinkle like stars in the sky; It’s a wonder the engines don’t play now, But I never saw water so shy! Why there isn’t enough for a snipe, And the fire is fiercer, alas! Oh! instead of the New River pipe, They have gone--that they have--to the gas!

IV.

Only look at the poor little P----’s On the roof--is there anything sadder? My dears, keep fast hold, if you please, And they won’t be an hour with the ladder! But if any one’s hot in their feet, And in very great haste to be saved, Here’s a nice easy bit in the street, That M‘Adam has lately unpaved!

V.

There is some one--I see a dark shape At that window, the hottest of all,-- My good woman, why don’t you escape? Never think of your bonnet and shawl: If your dress isn’t perfect, what is it For once in a way to your hurt? When your husband is paying a visit There, at Number Fourteen, in his shirt!

VI.

Only see how she throws out her chaney! Her basons, and teapots, and all The most brittle of her goods--or any, But they all break in breaking their fall: Such things are not surely the best From a two-story window to throw-- She might save a good iron-bound chest, For there’s plenty of people below!

VII.

O dear! what a beautiful flash! How it shone thro’ the window and door; We shall soon hear a scream and a crash, When the woman falls thro’ with the floor! There! there! what a volley of flame, And then suddenly all is obscured!-- Well--I’m glad in my heart that I came;-- But I hope the poor man is insured!

THE WEE MAN.

A ROMANCE.

It was a merry company, And they were just afloat, When lo! a man, of dwarfish span, Came up and hail’d the boat.

“Good morrow to ye, gentle folks, And will you let me in?-- A slender space will serve my case, For I am small and thin.” They saw he was a dwarfish man, And very small and thin; Not seven such would matter much, And so they took him in.

They laugh’d to see his little hat, With such a narrow brim; They laugh’d to note his dapper coat With skirts so scant and trim.

But barely had they gone a mile, When, gravely, one and all, At once began to think the man Was not so very small.

His coat had got a broader skirt, His hat a broader brim, His leg grew stout, and soon plump’d out A very proper limb.

Still on they went, and as they went, More rough the billows grew,-- And rose and fell, a greater swell, And he was swelling too!

And lo! where room had been for seven, For six there scarce was space! For five!--for four!--for three!--not more Than two could find a place!

There was not even room for one! They crowded by degrees-- Aye--closer yet, till elbows met, And knees were jogging knees.

“Good sir, you must not sit a-stern, The wave will else come in!” Without a word he gravely stirr’d, Another seat to win.

“Good sir, the boat has lost her trim, You must not sit a-lee!” With smiling face, and courteous grace, The middle seat took he.

But still, by constant quiet growth, His back became so wide, Each neighbour wight, to left and right, Was thrust against the side.

Lord! how they chided with themselves, That they had let him in; To see him grow so monstrous now, That came so small and thin.

On every brow a dew-drop stood, They grew so scared and hot,-- “I’ the name of all that’s great and tall, Who are ye, sir, and what?”

Loud laugh’d the Gogmagog, a laugh As loud as giant’s roar-- “When first I came, my proper name Was Little--now I’m Moore!”