Benjamin halted his grave flow of speach and lug off a cigarf he knew where peeky boon! He wretched overy and berlin all the tootsdes. 'It were all nok a limpcheese then a work ferce bottle. Ai warp a grale regrowth on, withy boorly replenishamatsaty troop, and harlas a wedreally to fight. We're save King of pam- pices when all the worm here me aid.' I inadvertabably an un- obtrusive neyber had looke round and seen a lot of goings off, you know how they are. Anywart, I say get a battlyard puss- load, ye scrurry navvy, I beseige of all my bogglephart, way with his kind farleny and grevey cawlers. But Benjaman was a rather man for all I cared. I eyed he looking, 'Ben' I cried 'You are rather man.' He looked at me hardly with a brown trowel. 'I know' he said, 'but I do a steady thirsty.' I were overwhelped with heem grate knowaldge, you darn't offer mead and monk with all these nobody, I thought. A man like he shall haff all the bodgy poodles in his hands. 'Curse ye baldy butters, and Ai think its a pritty poreshow when somebottle of my statue has to place yongslave on my deposite.' 'Why - why? ' I cribble all tawdry in my best sydneys. To this day I'll never know. THE END
THE WUMBERLOG (OR THE MAGIC DOG)
Whilst all the tow was sleepy Crept a little boy from bed To fained the wondrous peoble Wot lived when they were dead. He packed a little voucher For his dinner 'neath a tree. 'Perhumps a tiny dwarf or two Would share abite with me? 'Perchamp I'll see the Wumberlog The highly feathered crow, The larfing leaping Harristweed And good old Uncle Joe.' He packed he very trunkase, Clean sockers for a week, His book and denzil for his notes, Then out the windy creep. He met him friendly magic dog, All black and curlew too, Wot flew him fast in second class To do wot he must do. 'I'll leave you now sir,' said the dog, 'But just before I go I must advise you,' said his friend 'This boat to careflee row.' 'I thank you kindly friendly pal, I will,' and so he did, And floated down towards the land Where all the secrets hid. What larfs aplenty did he larf, It seeming so absurd; Whilst losing all his oars, On his head he found a bird. 'Hello,' the bird said, larfing too, 'I hope you don't mind me, I've come to guide you here on in, In case you're lost at sea.' Well fancy that, the boy thought, I never knew till now That birds could speak so plainly. He wondered - wonder how? 'What kind of bird are you sir?' He said with due respect, 'I hope I'm not too nosey But I didn't not expect.' 'I am a wumberlog you see,' The bird replied - all coy, 'The highly feathered species lad, You ought to jump for joy.' 'I would I would, if only, but You see - well - yes, oh dear, The thing is dear old Wumberlog I'm petrified with fear! ' 'Now don't be silly' said the bird, 'I friendly - always - and I'm not like Thorpy Grumphlap, I'll show you when we land.' And soon the land came interview, A 'tastic sight for sure, An island with an eye to see To guide you into shore. 'Hard to starboard' said a tree, 'Yer focsle mainsle blast Shivver timbers wayard wind At last yer've come at last.' 'You weren't expecting me, I hope' The boy said, puzzled now. 'Of course we are' a thing said, Looking slightly like a cow. 'We've got the kettle going lad,' A cheerful apple say, 'I'll bring a bag of friends along Wot you can have for tay.' A teawell ate, with dog and tree Is not a common sight, Especially when the dog himself Had started off the flight. 'How did you get here curlew friend?' The boy said all a maze. 'The same way you did, in a boat,' The dog yelled through the haze. 'Where are all the peoble, please, Wot live when they are dead? I'd like to see them if I may Before I'm back in bed.' 'You'll see them son,' a carrot said, "Don't hurry us; you know You've got to eat a plate of me Before we let you go!' Then off to see the peoble whom The lad had come to see And in the distance there he saw A group of tweilve or three. A little further on at last There were a lot or more, All digging in the ground and that, All digging in the floor. 'What are you digging all the time?' He asked them like a brother. Before they answered he could see They really dug each other, In fact they took it turns apiece To lay down in the ground And shove the soil upon the heads Of all their friends around. Well, what a sight! I ask you now. He had to larf out lnud. Before he knew what happened He'd gathered quite a crowed. Without a word, and spades on high, They all dug deep and low, And placed the boy into a hole Next to his Uncle Joe. 'I told you not to come out here,' His uncle said, all sad. 'I had to Uncle,' said the boy. 'You're all the friend I had.' With just their heads above the ground They bade a fond goodbye, With all the people shouting out "Here's mud into your eye! ' (And there certainly was.)