THE TRUANTS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM

One morning in Spring,
Two children did fling
THREE little Demons have broken loose
Their satchels aside with glee:
From the National School below!
In a very short space,
They are resolved to play truant to-day,
You might see, if you'd pace
Their primer and slate they have cast away,
By the banks of the River Lee,
And away, away, they go!

'Hey boys! hey boys! up go we!

Who so merry as we three?'
Two boys full of joy,

One big, one a small boy,
The reek of that most infernal pit,
And beside them a dog you might see.
Where sinful souls are stewing,
Away went their hats,
Rises so black, that in viewing it,
Away went the cats,
A thousand to one but you'd ask with surprise
And the feathers blew all of a bree!
As its murky columns met your eyes,

'Pray, is Old Nick a-brewing?'

Thither these three little Devils repair,
A bull then came out,
And mount by steam to the uppermost air.
Of a field with a shout,
They have got hold of a wandering star,
And after them scamper'd full speed;
That happen'd to come within hail.
But he met with a shock
O swiftly they glide! As they merrily ride
From behind a large rock,
All a cock-stride Of that Comet's tail.
Which made him retreat with great speed.
Oh the pranks! Oh the pranks!

The merry pranks, the mad pranks,

These wicked urchins play!
A swarm of wild bees
They kiss'd the @3Virgin@1 and fill'd her with dread,
Then flew over their knees,
They popp'd the @3Scorpion@1 into her bed;
And buzz'd in a very loud key;
They broke the pitcher of poor @3Aquarius,@1
Let's be off! said Tom Spring,
They stole the arrows of @3Sagittarius,@1
Or we shall feel a sharp sting!
And they skimm'd the @3Milky Way.@1
So they scamper'd away in great glee.
They fill'd the @3Scales@1 with sulphur full,

The hallooed the @3Dog-Star@1 on at the @3Bull,@1

And pleased themselves with the noise.
The wind then did roar,
They set the @3Lion@1 On poor @3Orion;@1
And the waves lash'd the shore,
They shaved all the hair Off the @3Lesser Bear!@1
And the clouds were as black as a sloe;
They kick'd the shins Of the @3Gemini Twins@1 --
Said Jack, "We shall sink,
Those heavenly Siamese Boys! --
In a minute, I think;
Never was such confusion and wrack,
So let's make the best of our way home, Joe!"
As they produced in the Zodiac! --

'Huzza! Huzza! Away! Away!

Let us go down to the earth and play!
They laugh'd and they sung,
Now we go up, up, up, Now we go down, down, down,
As they trudged along,
Now we go backwards and forwards,
And the dog gamboled round by their side;
Now we go round, round, round!'
And the setting sun threw
Thus they gambol, and scramble, and tear,
A bright golden hue
Till at last they arrive at the nethermost air.
On the waves of the murmuring tide.

And pray now what were these Devilets call'd?

These three little Fiends so gay!
They reach'd the old school,
One was @3Cob!@1 Another was @3Mob!@1
And they thought it no rule
The last and the least was young @3Chittabob!@1
To tell what had happen'd that day;
Queer little devils were they!
So they said they were ill,
@3Cob@1 was the strongest, @3Mob@1 was the wrongest,
And took rather a pill,
@3Chittabob's@1 tail was the finest and longest!
And they hoped to do better next day.
Three more frolicsome Imps, I ween,

Beelzebub's self hath seldom seen.

Over Mountain, over Fell,
Glassy Fountain, mossy Dell,
Rocky Island, barren Strand, Over Ocean, over Land,
With frisk and bound, and squeaks and squeals,
Heels over head, and head over heels;
With curlings and twistings, and twirls and wheeleries,
Down they drop at the gate of the @3Tuileries.@1

Courtiers were bowing and making legs,
While Charley @3le Roi@1 was bolting eggs:
'@3Mob,@1' says @3Cob, 'Chittabob,'@1 says @3Mob,@1
'Come here, you young Devil, @3we're in for a job!@1'
Up jumps @3Cob@1 to the Monarch's ear,
'Charley, my jolly boy, never fear;
If you mind all their jaw About Charter and Law,
You might just as well still be the @3Count d' Artois!@1
No such thing, Show 'em you're King,
Tip 'em an Ordinance, that's the thing!'
Charley dined, Took his pen and sign'd;
Then @3Mob@1 kick'd over his throne from behind!
'Huzza! Huzza! we may scamper now!
For here we've kick'd up a jolly good row!

'Over the water and over the Sea,
And over the water with charlie';
Now they came skipping and grinning with glee,
Not pausing to @3chaff@1 or to parley.
Over, over, On to Dover;
On fun intent, All through Kent
These mischievous devils so merrily went.
Over hill and over dale,
Sunken hollow, lofty ridge,
Frowning cliff, and smiling vale,
Down to the foot of Westminster-bridge.
'Hollo,' says @3Cob,@1 'There's the Duke and Sir Bob!
After 'em, Chittabob, after 'em, Mob.'
@3Mob@1 flung gravel, and Chittabob pebbles,
His Grace c-----d them both for a couple of rebels:
His feelings were hurt By the stones and the dirt --
In went he In an ecstasy,
And @3blew up@1 the nobles of high degree.

'Mr. Brougham, Mr. Hume, May fret and may fume --
And so may all you whom I see in this room;
Come weal, come woe, come calm, come storm --
I'll see you all -- @3bless'd@1 -- ere I give you reform.'
'Bravo!' says Chittabob, 'that's your sort,
Come along, schoolfellows, here's more sport.
Look there! look there! There's the great Lord May'r!
With the gravest of Deputies close to his chair!
With Hobler, his Clerk! Just the thing for a @3lark:@1
Huzzah! huzzah! boys, follow me now;
Here we may @3kick@1 up another good row.'
Here they are, Swift as a star,
They shoot in mid air, over Temple Bar!
Tom Macaulay beheld the flight
Of these three little dusky sons of night,
And his heart swell'd with joy and elation --
'Oh, see!' quoth he, 'Those @3Niggerlings@1 three,
Who have just got @3emancipation!@1'

Lord Key took fright: At the very first sight,
The whole Court of Aldermen wheel'd to the right;
Some ran from @3Chittabob@1 -- more from @3Mob,@1
The great @3locum tenens@1 jump'd up upon @3Cob,@1
Who roar'd and ran With the Alderman
To the Home Office, pick-a-back -- catch 'em who can!
'Stay at home -- here's a plot, And I can't tell you what,
If you don't, I'll be shot, But you'll all go to pot.'
Ah, little he ween'd, while the ground he thus ran over,
'Twas a @3Cob@1 he bestrode -- not his white horse from Hanover.

Back they came galloping through the Strand,
When Joseph Lancaster, stick in hand,
Popp'd up his head before 'em.
Well we know, That honest old Joe,
Is a sort of High Master down below,
And teaches the Imps decorum.
Satan had started him off in a crack
To flog these three little runaways back.

Fear each assails; Every one quails;
'Oh dear! how he'll tickle our little black tails'
Have done, have done, Here's that son of a gun,
Old Joe, come after us, -- run, boys, run.'
Off ran @3Cob,@1 Off ran @3Mob,@1
And off in a fright ran young @3Chittabob;@1
Joe caught @3Chittabob@1 just by the tail,
And @3Cob@1 by his crumpled horn;
Bitterly then did these Imps bewail,
That ever they were born!
@3Mob@1 got away, But none to this day
Know exactly whither he went;
Some say he's been seen about Blackfriars-bridge,
And some say he's down in Kent.

But where'er he may roam,
He has not ventured home
Since the day the three took wing,
And many suppose
He has changed his clothes,
And now goes by the name of '@3Swing.@1'

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