3 "By any reasonable plan I'll make you happy if I can ; My own convenience count as nil; "You have a daughter, CAPTAIN Reece, Ten female cousins and a niece, A ma, if what I'm told is true, Six sisters, and an aunt or two. 66 Now, somehow, sir, it seems to me, Unmarried members of the crew. "If you'd ameliorate our life, Good CAPTAIN REECE, that worthy man, "But what are dukes and viscounts to "As you desire it shall befall, The boatswain of The Mantelpiece, "I have a widowed mother who The captain saw the dame that dayAddressed her in his playful way "And did it want a wedding It was a 66 tempting Well, well, the chaplain I will seek, The sisters, cousins, aunts, and niece, THE RIVAL CURATES L IST while the poet trolls Of MR. CLAYTON HOOPER, Who had a cure of souls He lived on curds and whey, Wild croquet HOOPER banned, His helmet was a glance That spoke of holy gladness; A saintly smile his lance, His shield a tear of sadness. His Vicar smiled to see This armor on him buckled: With pardonable glee He blessed himself and chuckled. "In mildness to abound My curate's sole design is, In all the country round There's none so mild as mine is!" And HOOPER, disinclined His trumpet to be blowing, Yet did n't think you'd find A milder curate going. A friend arrived one day "You think your famous name For mildness can't be shaken, That none can blot your fameBut, HOOPER, you're mistaken! "Your mind is not as blank Who holds a curate's rank |