A GUEST.

Death, are you well? I trust you have no cough

That's painful or in any way annoying —

No kidney trouble that may carry you off,

Or heart disease to keep you from enjoying

Your meals — and ours.‘ T were very sad indeed

To have to quit the busy life you lead.

You've been quite active lately for so old

A person, and not very strong-appearing.

I'm apprehensive, somehow, that my bold,

Bad brother gave you trouble in the spearing.

And my two friends — I fear, sir, that you ran

Quite hard for them, especially the man.

I crave your pardon:‘ twas no fault of mine;

If you are overworked I'm sorry, very.

Come in, old man, and have a glass of wine.

What shall it be — Marsala, Port or Sherry?

What! just a mug of blood? That's funny grog

To ask a friend for, eh? Well, take it, hog!