Rhyme? and reason? . SUPPORTING EACH MAN ON THE TO? OF THE TIDE 136 THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK. A Billiard-marker, whose skill was immense, Might perhaps have won more than his share— But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care. There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck, Or would sit making lace in the bow :And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck, Though none of the sailors knew how. There was one who was famed for the number of things He forgot when he entered the ship :His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings, And the clothes
Rhyme? and reason? . SUPPORTING EACH MAN ON THE TO? OF THE TIDE 136 THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK. A Billiard-marker, whose skill was immense, Might perhaps have won more than his share— But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care. There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck, Or would sit making lace in the bow :And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck, Though none of the sailors knew how. There was one who was famed for the number of things He forgot when he entered the ship :His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings, And the clothes he had bought for the trip. He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,With his name painted clearly on each : But since he omitted to mention the fact,They were all left behind on the beach. The loss of his clothes hardly mattered, because He had seven coats on when he came,With three pair of boots—but the worst of it was He had wholly forgotten his name,. HE HAD WHOLLY FORGOTTEN HIS NAME I 3 8 THE HUNTING OF THE SNARIC He would answer to Hi! or to any loud cry,Such as Fry me! or Fritter my wig! To What-you-may-call-um ! or What-was-his-name !,:But especially Thing-um-a jig ! While, for those who preferred a more forcible word, He had different names from these :His intimate friends called him Candle-ends, And his enemies Toasted-cheese. His form is ungainly—his intellect small— (So the Bellman would often remark)— But his courage is perfect! And that, after all, Is the thing that one needs with a Snark. He would joke with hyaenas, returning their stare With an impudent wag of the head:And he once went a walk, paw-in-paw, with a bear, Just to keep up its spirits, he said. He came as a Baker : but owned, when too late—And it drove the poor Bellman half-mad— He could only bake Bride-cake—for which, I may state,No materials were to be had. THE LANDING. 139 The iast of the crew needs especial remark, Though he looked an incredib
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1883
