Iftheyrustorrotwedie，Iftheyripenwearefed。
VerymightyisthepowerofourKings！
TriumphalreturntoSimlaoftheInvestigators，attiredafterthemannerofDionysus，leadingapettiger-cubinwreathsofrhubarb-leaves，symbolicalofIndiaundermedicaltreatment。
Theysing：——
Wehaveseen，wehavewritten——beholdit，theproofofourmanifoldtoil！
Intheirhoststheyassembledandtoldit——thetaleoftheSonsoftheSoil。
WehavesaidoftheSickness——“Whereisit？”——andofDeath——“Itisfarfromourken。”——
Wehavepaidaparticularvisittotheaffluentchildrenofmen。
Wehavetroddenthemartandthewell-curb——wehaestoopedtothebieldandthebyre；
AndtheKingmaytheforcesofHellcurbforthePeoplehavealltheydesire！
Castanetsandstep-dance：——
Oh，thedomandthemagandthethakurandthethag，Andthenatandthebrinjaree，AndthebunniaandtheryotareashappyandasquietAndasplumpastheycanbe！
Yes，thejainandthejatinhisstucco-frontedhut，Andtheboundingbazugar，BythefavouroftheKing，areasfatasanything，Theyare——theyare——theyare！
Recitative，GovernmentofIndia，withwhitesatinwingsandelectro-platedharp：——
HowbeautifulupontheMountains——inpeacereclining，Thustobeassuredthatourpeopleareunanimouslydining。
Andthoughthereareplacesnotsoblessedasothersinnauraladvantages，which，afterall，wasonlytobeexpected，Proudandgladarewetocongratulateyouupontheworkyouhavethusablyeffected。
Cres。Howbe-ewtifulupontheMountains！
HiredBand，brassesonly，fullchorus：——
GodblesstheSquireAndallhisrichrelationsWhoteachuspoorpeopleWeeatourproperrations——
Weeatourproperrations，Inspiteofinundations，Malarialexhalations，Andcasualstarvations，Wehave，wehave，theysaywehave——
Wehaveourproperrations！
ChorusoftheCrystallisedFactsBeforethebeginningofyearsTherecametotheruleoftheStateMenwithapairofshears，MenwithanEstimate——
StracheywithMuirforleaven，Lyttonwithlocksthatfell，RiponfoolingwithHeaven，AndTempleridinglikeH——ll！
AndthebigotstookinhandCessandthefallingofrain，AndthemeasureofsiftedsandThedealerputsinthegrain——
Importsbylandandsea，Touttermostdecimalworth，Andregistration——free——
Inthehousesofdeathandofbirth。
Andfashionedwithpensandpaper，Andfashionedinblackandwhite，WithLifeforaflickeringtaperAndDeathforablazinglight——
WiththeArmedandtheCivilPower，Thathisstrengthmightendureforaspan——
FromAdam’sBridgetoPeshawur，TheMuchAdministeredMan。
InthetownsoftheNorthandtheEast，Theygatheredasuntorule，TheybadehimstarvehispriestAndsendhischildrentoschool。
Railwaysandroadstheywrought，Fortheneedsofthesoilwithin；
Atimetosquabbleincourt，Atimetobearandtogrin。
Andgavehimpeaceinhisways，Jails——andPolicetofight，Justice——atlengthofdays，AndRight——andMightintheRight。
Hisspeechisofmortgagedbedding，Onhiskineheborrowsyet，Athisheartishisdaughter’swedding，Inhiseyeforeknowledgedofdebt。
Heeatsandhathindigestion，Hetoilsandhemaynotstop；
Hislifeisalong-drawnquestionBetweenacropandacrop。
THEMARE’SNEST
JaneAustenBeecherStowedeRouseWasgoodbeyondallearthlyneed；
But，ontheotherhand，herspouseWasvery，verybadindeed。
Hesmokedcigars，calledchurchesslow，Andraced——butthisshedidnotknow。
ForBelialMachiavellikeptThelittlefactasecret，and，Thougho’erhisminorsinsshewept，JaneAustendidnotunderstandThatLilly——thirteen-twoandbayAbsorbedone-halfherhusband’spay。
Shewassogood，shemadehimeworse；
Somewomenarelikethis，Ithink；
Hetaughtherparrothowtocurse，HerAssammonkeyhowtodrink。
HevexedherrighteoussouluntilShewentup，andhewentdownhill。
Thencamethecrisis，strangetosay，Whichturnedagoodwifetoabetter。
Atelegraphicpeon，oneday，Broughther——now，haditbeenaletterForBelialMachiavelli，I
KnowJanewouldjusthaveletitlie。
But’twasatelegraminstead，Marked“urgent。”andherdutyplainToopenitJaneAustenread：
“YourLilly’sgotacoughagain。
Can’tunderstandwhysheiskeptAtyourexpense。”JaneAustenwept。
Itwasamisdirectedwire。
HerhusbandwasatShaitanpore。
Shespreadheranger，hotasfire，Throughsixthinforeignsheetsormore。
Sentoffthatletter，wroteanotherTohersolicitor——andmother。
ThenBelialMachiavellisawHererrorand，Itrust，hisown，WiredtotheminionoftheLaw，Andtraveledwifeward——notalone。
ForLilly——thirteen-twoandbay——
Cameinahorse-boxalltheway。
Therewasascene——aweeportwo——
WithmanykissesAustenJaneRodeLillyalltheseasonthrough，Andneveropenedwiresagain。
SheracesnowwithBelialThisIsverysad，butsoitis。
POSSIBILITIES
Ay，layhim’neaththeSimlapine——
Afortnightfullytobemissed，Behold，weloseourfourthatwhist，Achairisvacantwherewedine。
Hisplaceforgetshim；othermenHaveboughthisponies，guns，andtraps。
HisfortuneistheGreatPerhapsAndthatcoolrest-housedowntheglen，Whenceheshallhear，asspiritsmay，Ourmundancerevelontheheight，Shallwatcheachflashing’rickshaw-lightSweepontodinner，dance，andplay。
BenmoreshallwoohimtotheballWithlightedroomsandbrayingband；
Andheshallhearandunderstand“DreamFaces“betterthanusall。
For，thinkyou，asthevapoursfleeAcrossSanjaolieafterrain，HissoulmayclimbthehillagainToeachoffieldofvictory。
Unseen，whowomenheldsodear，Thestrongman’syearningtohiskindShallshakeatmostthewindow-blind，Ordullawhilethecard-room’scheer。
Inhisownplaceofpowerunkown，HisLighto’Loveanother’sflame，Andheandalienandalone！
Yetmayhemeetwithmanyafriend——
Shrewdshadows，lingeringlongunseenAmonguswhen“GodsavetheQueen“
Showseven“extras“haveanend。
And，whenweleavetheheatedroom，And，whenatfourthelightsexpire，ThecrewshallgatherroundthefireAndmockourlaughterinthegloom；
Talkaswetalked，andtheyeredeath——
Flirtwanly，danceinghostly-wise，Withghostsoftunesformelodies，Andvanishatthemorning’sbreath。
CHRISTMASININDIA
Dimdawnbehindthetamerisks——theskyissaffron-yellow——
Asthewomeninthevillagegrindthecorn，Andtheparrotsseektheriverside，eachcallingtohisfellowThattheDay，thestaringEasterDayisborn。
Ohthewhitedustonthehighway！Ohthestenchesinthebyway！
OhtheclammyfogthathoversAndatHomethey’remakingmerry’neaththewhiteandscarletberry——
WhatparthaveIndia’sexilesintheirmirth？
Fulldaybegindthetamarisks——theskyisblueandstaring——
Asthecattlecrawlafieldbeneaththeyoke，AndtheybearOneo’erthefield-path，whoispastallhopeorcaring，Totheghatbelowthecurlingwreathsofsmoke。
CallonRama，goingslowly，asyebearabrotherlowly——
CallonRama——hemayhear，perhaps，yourvoice！
Withourhymn-booksandourpsaltersweappealtootheraltars，Andto-daywebid“goodChristianmenrejoice！”
Highnoonbehindthetamarisks——thesunishotaboveus——
AsatHometheChristmasDayisbreakingwan。
Theywilldrinkourhealthsatdinner——thosewhotellushowtheyloveus，Andforgetustillanotheryearbegone！
Ohthetoilthatknowsnobreaking！OhtheHeimweh，ceaseless，aching！
OhtheblackdividingSeaandalienPlain！
Youthwascheap——whereforewesoldit。
Goldwasgood——wehopedtoholdit，Andto-dayweknowthefulnessofourgain。
Greyduskbehindthetamarisks——theparrotsflytogether——
AsthesunissinkingslowlyoverHome；
Andhislastrayseemstomockusshackledinalifelongtether。
Thatdragsusbackhow’ersofarweroam。
Hardherservice，poorherpayment——sheisancient，tatteredraiment——
India，shethegrimStepmotherofourkind。
Ifayearoflifebelenther，ifhertemple’sshrineweenter，Thedoorishut——wemaynotlookbehind。
Blacknightbehindthetamarisks——theowlsbegintheirchorus——
Astheconchesfromthetemplescreamandbray。
Withthefruitlessyearsbehindus，andthehopelessyearsbeforeus，Letushonor，Omybrother，ChristmasDay！
Callatruce，then，toourlabors——letusfeastwithfriendsandneighbors，Andbemerryasthecustomofourcaste；
Forif“faintandforcedthelaughter。”andifsadnessfollowafter，WearericherbyonemockingChristmaspast。
PAGETT，M。P。
ThetoadbeneaththeharrowknowsExactlywhereeathtooth-pointgoes。
ThebutterflyupontheroadPreachescontentmenttothattoad。
Pagett，M。P。，wasaliar，andafluentliartherewith——
HespokeoftheheatofIndiaasthe“AsianSolarMyth“；
Cameonafourmonths’visit，to“studytheEast。”inNovember，AndIgothimtosignanagreementvowingtostaytillSeptember。
MarchcameinwiththekoilPagettwascoolandgay，Calledmea“bloatedBrahmin。”talkedofmy“princelypay。”
Marchwentoutwiththeroses“Whereisyourheat？”saidhe。
“Coming。”saidItoPagett，“Skittles！”saidPagett，M。P。
Aprilbeganwiththepunkah，coolies，andprickly-heat，——
Pagettwasdeartomosquitoes，sandfliesfoundhimatreat。
Hegrewspeckledandmumpy-hammered，Igrievetosay，Aryanbrotherswhofannedhim，inanilliberalway。
Maysetinwithadust-storm，——Pagettwentdownwiththesun。
Allthedelightsoftheseasontickledhimonebyone。
Imprimis——tenday’s“liver“——duetohisdrinkingbeer；
Later，adoseoffever——slight，buthecalleditsevere。
Dysent’rytouchedhiminJune，aftertheChotaBursat——
Loweredhisportlyperson——madehimyearntodepart。
Hedidn’tcallmea“Brahmin。”or“bloated。”or“overpaid。”
Butseemedtothinkitawonderthatanyonestayed。
Julywasatrifleunhealthy，——Pagettwasillwithfear。
’Calleditthe“CholeraMorbus。”hintedthatlifewasdear。
Hebabbledof“EasternExile。”andmentionedhishomewithtears；
ButIhaven’tseenmychildrenforcloseuponsevenyears。
WereachedahundredandtwentyonceintheCourtatnoon，I’vementionedPagettwasportlyPagett，wentoffinaswoon。
Thatwasanendtothebusiness；Pagett，theperjured，fledWithapractical，workingknowledgeof“SolarMyths“inhishead。
AndIlaughedasIdrovefromthestation，butthemirthdiedoutonmylipsAsIthoughtofthefoolslikePagettwhowriteoftheir“Easterntrips。”
Andthesneersofthetraveledidiotswhodulymisgoverntheland，AndIprayedtotheLordtodeliveranotheroneintomyhand。