Nor yet the click of the lifted latch; Nor yet the fall of a foot on the floor- And lo! a man! a Pedlar? ay, marry, With the little back-shop that such tradesmen carry, A chapman for goodness and cheapness of ware, But deem'd a piratical sort of invader However, in the stranger came, And, the moment he met the eyes of the Dame, And then from amongst his portable gear, "There, Ma'am! try it! You need n't buy it— The last New Patent-and nothing comes nigh it For affording the Deaf, at little expense, The sense of hearing, and hearing of sense! A Real Blessing-and no mistake, Invented for poor Humanity's sake; "Try it again! No harm in trying— And you'll hear a whisper, however small, And even what people are going to say I would n't tell a lie, I would n't, But my Trumpets have heard what Solomon's could n't; And as for Scott he promises fine, But can he warrant his horns like mine Never to hear what a Lady should n't Only a guinea-and can't take less." ("That's very dear," says Dame Eleanor S.) "Dear!-Oh dear, to call it dear! Why it isn't a horn you buy, but an ear; Only think, and you'll find on reflection You're bargaining, Ma'am, for the Voice of Affection; Not to mention the striking of clocks Cackle of hens-crowing of cocks- Every sound that Echo mocks Vocals, fiddles, and musical-box And zounds! to call such a concert dear! But I must n't swear with my horn in your eas. At the Queen's Levees or the Lord Mayor's Shows, Including the wonderful lively sound Of the Guards' key-bugles all the year round Come," said the talkative Man of the Pack, For this elegant, useful Conductor of Sound, "Only a pound! it's only the price Of hearing a Concert once or twice, It's only the fee You might give Mr. C., And after all not hear his advice, But common prudence would bid you stump it; It's the regular charge At a Fancy Fair for a penny trumpet. Lord! what's a pound to the blessing of hearing!" ("A pound's a pound," said Dame Eleanor Spearing.) "Try it again! no harm in trying! A pound's a pound there's no denying; But think what thousands and thousands of pounds We pay for nothing but hearing sounds: Sounds of Equity, Justice and Law, Hocus-pocus, and Nong-tong-paw, To hear the sounds at a Public Dinner! From those who sell their sounds so high, You must fork out the blunt with a haymaker's prong' "It's not the thing for me—I know it, To crack my own Trumpet up and blow it; But it is the best, and time will show it. So very deaf, That she might have worn a percussion cap, By hearing whether they ring or not! "Or Of patience, indeed, a perfect scorner, In a vulgar voice that goes over the way, Down the street and round the corner, Come-speak your mind-it's 'No or Yes'" ("I've half a mind," said Dame Eleanor S.) "Try it again-no harm in trying, Of course you hear me, as easy as lying; To make you squall, and struggle, and kick, Whose ear undergoes Such horrid tugs at membrane and gristle, "You may go to surgical chaps if you choose, As you'd shell out your almonds for Christmas-day; Whether you ever would hear the shout Of the little blackguards that bawl about, 'There you go with your tonsils out!' Why I knew a deaf Welshman who came from Glamorgan On purpose to try a surgical spell, And paid a guinea, and might as well Have cled a monkey into his organ! And pour'd in his 'r some acoustical drug, If you don't get stuck Through your liver and lights at a royal entry, Try it again, dear Madam, try it! Many would sell their beds to buy it. I warrant you often wake up in the night, |