In Residence

THE VILLAGE CHAMPIONS An’ bring ’em ’ere in plates of six.’ When Billy Stoke ’e up an’ swore; ‘Bring mine,’ ’e says, an’ swore like mad, ‘An’ bring ’em raw,’ ses ’e, ‘by Gad!’ “So Jimmy Buskett sits ’im down, An’ Billy Stoke ’e ups an’ stands; An’ Parson Bimmins starts to frown. But Sawbones Smith ’e rubs ’is ’ands, An’ whispers, as ’e wags ’is’ead, ~ ‘’Ere’s work fur me an’ Sexton Ned!’ “So Jimmy Buskett takes ’is seat, An’ swallers ’is’n ’ard an’ ’ole ; An’ Billy stands upon ’is feet, An’ drinks ’em from a chiny bowl. So by the time a ’our were gone, They eats between ’em forty-one. “But Jimmy’s mouth were gitting dry, An’ so ’e’as to wash ’em down, While Billy looked ’most fit to die, An’ turned from green to dirty-brown ; An’ Sawbones Smith was a’most mazed, An’ Parson Bimmins fairly dazed. “Well, mister, Jimmy Buskett ses, "E ses, ses ’e, at fifty-two, A-chokin’ an’ a-blowin’ es A rileway ingin go to do—