GodbringeththeraintotheBar，Thatourcattleincrease。”
AndthePloughmansettledtheshareMoredeepinthesun-driedclod：
“MogulMahratta，andMlechfromtheNorth，AndWhiteQueenovertheSeas——
GodraiseththemupanddriveththemforthAsthedustoftheploughsharefliesinthebreeze；
Butthewheatandthecattleareallmycare，AndtherestisthewillofGod。”
THEUNDERTAKER’SHORSE
“To-tschin-shuiscondemnedtodeath。
HowcanhedrinkteawiththeExecutioner？”
JapaneseProverb。
Theeldestsonbestrideshim，Andtheprettydaughterrideshim，AndImeethimofto’morningsontheCourse；
AndtherekindlesinmybosomAnemotionchillandgruesomeAsIcanterpasttheUndertaker’sHorse。
Neithershieshenorisrestive，ButahideouslysuggestiveTrot，professionalandplacid，heaffects；
Andthecadenceofhishoof-beatsTomymindthisgrimreproofbeats：——
“Mendyourpace，myfriend，I’mcomingWho’sthenext？”
Ah！stud-bredofill-omen，Ihavewatchedthestrongestgo——menOfpithandmightandmuscle——atyourheels，Downtheplantain-borderedhighway，Heavensenditne’erbemyway！
Inalacqueredboxandjettyuponwheels。
Answer，sombrebeastanddreary，WhereisBrown，theyoung，thecheery，Smith，theprideofallhisfriendsandhalftheForce？
YouwereatthatlastdreaddakWemustcoveratawalk，Bringthembacktome，OUndertaker’sHorse！
Withyourmaneunhoggedandflowing，Andyourcuriouswayofgoing，Andthatbusinesslikeblackcrimpingofyourtail，E’enwithBeautyonyourback，Sir，Pacingasalady’shack，Sir，WhatwonderwhenImeetyouIturnpale？
Itmaybeyouwaityourtime，Beast，TillIwritemylastbadrhyme，Beast——
Quitthesunlight，cuttherhyming，droptheglass——
Followafterwiththeothers，WheresomeduskyheathensmothersUswithmarigoldsinlieuofEnglishgrass。
Or，perchance，inyearstofollow，Ishallwatchyourplumpsideshollow，SeeCarnifexgonelamebecomeacorse——
Seeoldageatlasto’erpoweryou，AndtheStationPackdevouryou，Ishallchucklethen，OUndertaker’sHorse！
Buttoinsult，jibe，andquest，I’veStillthehideouslysuggestiveTrotthathammersouttheunrelentingtext，AndIhearithardbehindmeInwhatplacesoe’erIfindme：——
“’SuretocatchyousoonerorlaterWho’sthenext？”
THEFALLOFJOCKGILLESPIE
Thisfellwhendinner-timewasdone——
’Twixtthefirstan’thesecondrub——
ThatoormonJockcam’hameagainTohisroomsahisttheClub。
An’synehelaughed，an’synehesang，An’synewethochthimfou，An’synehetrumpedhispartner’strick，An’garredhispartnerrue。
Thenupandspakeaneldermon，ThatheldtheSpadeitsAce——
Godsavethelad！Whencecomesthelicht“Thatwimplesonhisface？”
An’Jockhesniggered，an’Jockhesmiled，An’owerthecard-brimwunk：——
“I’ma’toofreshfra’thestirrup-peg，“MaybethatIamdrunk。”
“There’swhuskybrewedinGalashils“An’LLLforbye；
“Butneverliquorlitthelowe“Thatkeeksfra’ootyoureye。
“There’sathirdo’haironyourdress-coatbreast，“Aboontheheartawee？”
“Oh！thatisfra’thelang-hairedSkye“Thatslobbersowerme。”
“Oh！lang-hairedSkyesarelovin’beasts，“An’terrierdogsarefair，“Butneveryetwasterrierborn，“Wi’ell-langgowdenhair！
“There’sasmircho’poutheronyourbreast，“Belowtheleftlappel？”
“Oh！thatisfra’myauldcigar，“Whenasthestump-endfell。”
“MonJock，yesmoketheTrichicoarse，“Foryeareshorto’cash，“An’bestHavanasCouldnaleave“Saewhitean’pureanash。
“Thisnichtyestoppedastorybraid，“An’stoppeditwi’acurse。
“Lastnichtyetoldthattaleyoursel’——
“An’cappeditwi’aworse！
“Oh！we’renofou！Oh！we’renofou！
“Butplainlywecanken“Ye’refallin’，fallin’fratheband“O’cantiesinglemen！”
An’itfellwhensirris-shawsweresere，An’thenichtswerelangandmirk，Inbrawnewbreeks，wi’agowdenring，OrJockegaedtotheKirk！
ARITHMETICONTHEFRONTIER
AgreatandgloriousthingitisTolearn，forsevenyearsorso，TheLordknowswhatofthatandthis，Erereckonedfittofacethefoe——
TheflyingbulletdownthePass，Thatwhistlesclear：“Allfleshisgrass。”
ThreehundredpoundsperannumspentOnmakingbrainandbodymeeterForallthemurderousintentComprisedin“villanoussaltpetre！”
Andafter——asktheYusufzaiesWhatcomesofallour’ologies。
AscrimmageinaBorderStation——
Acanterdownsomedarkdefile——
TwothousandpoundsofeducationDropstoaten-rupeejezail——
TheCrammer’sboast，theSquadron’spride，Shotlikearabbitinaride！
NopropositionEuclidwrote，Noformulaethetext-booksknow，Willturnthebulletfromyourcoat，Orwardthetulwar’sdownwardblowStrikehardwhocares——shootstraightwhocan——
Theoddsareonthecheaperman。
Onesword-knotstolenfromthecampWillpayforalltheschoolexpensesOfanyKurrumValleyscampWhoknowsnowordofmoodsandtenses，But，beingblessedwithperfectsight，Picksoffourmessmatesleftandright。
Withhome-bredhordesthehillsidesteem，Thetroop-shipsbringusonebyone，Atvastexpenseoftimeandsteam，ToslayAfridiswheretheyrun。
The“captivesofourbowandspear“
Arecheap——alas！aswearedear。
THEBETROTHED
“Youmustchoosebetweenmeandyourcigar。”——
BREACHOFPROMISECASE，CIRCA1885。
Opentheoldcigar-box，getmeaCubastout，Forthingsarerunningcrossways，andMaggieandIareout。
WequarrelledaboutHavanas——wefoughto’eragoodcheroot，AndIknewsheisexacting，andshesaysIamabrute。
Opentheoldcigar-box——letmeconsideraspace；
InthesoftblueveilofthevapourmusingonMaggie’sface。
Maggieisprettytolookat——Maggie’salovinglass，Buttheprettiestcheeksmustwrinkle，thetruestoflovesmustpass。
There’speaceinaLarranaga，there’scalminaHenryClay；
Butthebestcigarinanhourisfinishedandthrownaway——
Thrownawayforanotherasperfectandripeandbrown——
ButIcouldnotthrowawayMaggieforfearo’thetalko’thetown！
Maggie，mywifeatfifty——greyanddourandold——
WithneveranotherMaggietopurchaseforloveorgold！
AndthelightofDaysthathaveBeenthedarkoftheDaysthatAre，AndLove’storchstinkingandstale，likethebuttofadeadcigar——
Thebuttofadeadcigaryouareboundtokeepinyourpocket——
Withneveranewonetolighttho’it’scharredandblacktothesocket！
Opentheoldcigar-box——letmeconsiderawhile。
HereisamildManila——thereisawifelysmile。
Whichisthebetterportion——bondageboughtwitharing，Oraharemofduskybeauties，fiftytiedinastring？
Counsellorscunningandsilent——comforterstrueandtried，Andneveraoneofthefiftytosneeratarivalbride？
Thoughtintheearlymorning，solaceintimeofwoes，Peaceinthehushofthetwilight，balmeremyeyelidsclose，Thiswillthefiftygiveme，askingnoughtinreturn，WithonlyaSuttee’spassion——todotheirdutyandburn。
ThiswillthefiftygivemeWhentheyarespentanddead，Fivetimesotherfiftiesshallbemyservantsinstead。
Thefurrowsoffar-offJava，theislesoftheSpanishMain，Whentheyhearmyharemisemptywillsendmemybridesagain。
Iwilltakenoheedtotheirraiment，norfoodfortheirmouthswithal，Solongasthegullsarenesting，solongastheshowersfall。
Iwillscent’emwithbestvanilla，withteawillItempertheirhides，AndtheMoorandtheMormonshallenvywhoreadofthetaleofmybrides。
ForMaggiehaswrittenalettertogivememychoicebetweenTheweelittlewhimperingLoveandthegreatgodNicko’Teen。
AndIhavebeenservantofLoveforbarelyatwelvemonthclear，ButIhavebeenPriestofCabanasamatterofsevenyear；
AndthegloomofmybachelordaysisfleckedwiththecheerylightOfstumsthatIburnedtoFriendshipandPleasureandWorkandFight。
AndIturnmyeyestothefuturethatMaggieandImustprove，ButtheonlylightonthemarshesistheWill-o’-the-WispofLove。
Willitseemesafethroughmyjourneyorleavemeboggedinthemire？
Sinceapuffoftobaccocancloudit，shallIfollowthefitfulfire？
Opentheoldcigar-box——letmeconsideranew——
Oldfriends，andwhoisMaggiethatIshouldabandonyou？
AmillionsurplusMaggiesarewillingtobeartheyoke；
Andawomanisonlyawoman，butagoodCigarisaSmoke。
LightmeanotherCuba——Iholdtomyfirst-swornvows。
IfMaggiewillhavenorival，I’llhavenoMaggieforSpouse！
ATALEOFTWOCITIES
Wherethesober-coloredcultivatorsmilesOnhisbyles；
Wherethecholera，thecyclone，andthecrowComeandgo；
Wherethemerchantdealsinindigoandtea，Hidesandghi；
WheretheBabudropsinflammatoryhintsInhisprints；
StandsaCity——Charnockchoseit——packedawayNearaBay——
BytheSewagerenderedfetid，bythesewerMadeimpure，BytheSunderbundsunwholesome，bytheswampMoistanddamp；
AndtheCityandtheViceroy，aswesee，Don’tagree。
Once，twohunderedyearsago，thetradercameMeekandtame。
Wherehistimidfootfirsthalted，therehestayed，TillmeretradeGrewtoEmpire，andhesenthisarmiesforthSouthandNorthTillthecountryfromPeshawurtoCeylonWashisown。
ThusthemiddayhaltofCharnock——more’sthepity！
GrewaCity。
Asthefungussproutschaoticfromitsbed，Soitspread——
Chance-directed，chance-erected，laidandbuiltOnthesilt——
Palace，byre，hovel——povertyandpride——
Sidebyside；
And，abovethepackedandpestilentialtown，Deathlookeddown。
ButtheRulersinthatCitybytheSeaTurnedtoflee——
Fled，witheachreturningspring-tidefromitsillsTotheHills。
Fromtheclammyfogsofmorning，fromtheblazeOfolddays，Fromthesicknessofthenoontide，fromtheheat，Beatretreat；
ForthecountryfromPeshawurtoCeylonWastheirown。
ButtheMerchantriskedtheperilsofthePlainForhisgain。
Nowtheresting-placeofCharnock，’neaththepalms，Asksanalms，Andtheburdenofitslamentationis，Briefly，this：
“Becauseforcertainmonths，weboilandstew，Soshouldyou。
CasttheViceroyandhisCouncil，toperspireInourfire！”
Andforanswertotheargument，invainWeexplainThatanamateurSaintLawrencecannotfry：
“Allmustfry！”
ThattheMerchantriskstheperilsofthePlainForgain。
NorcanRulersruleahousethatmengrowrichin，Fromitskitchen。
LettheBabudropinflammatoryhintsInhisprints；
Andmature——consistentsoul——hisplanforstealingToDarjeeling：
LettheMerchantseek，whomakeshissilverpile，England’sisle；
LettheCityCharnockpitchedon——evilday！
GoHerway。
ThoughtheargosiesofAsiaatHerdoorsHeaptheirstores，ThoughHerenterpriseandenergysecureIncomesure，Though“out-stationorderspunctuallyobeyed“
SwellHertrade——
Still，forrule，administration，andtherest，Simla’sbest。
TheEndVOLUMEIIBALLADSANDBARRACK-ROOMBALLADS
BALLADS