. J.K.
Stephen--affectionately known by his friends as "Jem Stephen"--was
beginning to be recognized as an extraordinarily good writer of humorous
verse. His performances in this line were not collected till ten years
later (_Lapsus Calami_, 1891), and his brilliant career was cut short,
by the results of an accident, in 1892. I reproduce the following
sonnet, not only because I think it an excellent criticism aptly
expressed, but because I desire to pay my tribute of admiration to one
of whom all men spoke golden words:--

"Two voices are there: one is of the deep--
It learns the storm-cloud's thunderous melody,
Now roars, now murmurs with the changing sea,
Now bird-like pipes, now closes soft in sleep;
And one is of an old, half-witted sheep
Which bleats articulate monotony,
And indicates that two and one are three,
That glass is green, lakes damp, and mountains steep;
And, Wordsworth, both are thine."

I hope that there are few among my readers who have not in their time
known and loved the dear old ditty which tells us how

"There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth,
And he was a squire's son,
And he loved the Bailiff's daughter dear
Who dwelt at Islington."

Well, to all who have followed that touching story of love and grief I
commend the following version of it. French, after all, is the true
language of sentiment:--

"Il y avait un garcon,
Fort amiable et fort bon,
Qui etait le fils du Lord Mayor;
Et il aimait la fille
D'un sergent de ville
Qui demeurait a Leycesster Sqvare.

"Mais elle etait un peu prude,
Et n'avait pas l'habitude
De coqueter, comme les autres demoiselles;
Jusqu'a ce que le Lord Mayor
(Homme brutal, comme tous les peres)
L'eloigna de sa tourterelle.

"Apres quelques ans d'absence,
Au rencontre elle s'elance;
Elle se fait une toilette de tres bon gout--
Des pantoufles sur les pieds,
Des lunettes sur le nez,
Et un collier sur le cou--c'etait tout.

"Mais bientot elle s'assit
Dans la rue Piccadilli,
Car il faisait extremement chaud;
Et la elle vit s'avancer
L'unique objet de ses pensees,
Sur le plus magnifique de chevaux!

"Je suis pauvre et sans ressource!
Prete, prete-moi ta bourse,
Ou ta montre, pour me montrer confiance.'
'Jeune femme, je ne vous connais,
Ainsi il faut me donner