Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-01-28
PREFACE TO THE TWENTY-FIVE VOL.
UME OF PUNCH.

On Christmas Eve, Mr.. Punch, on the strength
or, rather, length--of Message from President
Pierce, visited her Majesty Queen NAB. He was
received by most courteous Dream-in- Waiting
who introduced him through the Gate of Horn
whence, as Colonel Sibthrop beautifully remarks.
"verls facilis daiur czitus Umbris"
Dream-World was merily keeping It's Yule-tidt
with shadow Sports and dsolving Pastmes AS
Mr.. Punch entered, the Game was Forfeits.
The Lady Britannia was enthroned, Mistress o
the Revel, and her golden apron was heaped with
Pledges. The owners, miscellaneous group
awaited the sentence Of penalties.
Down, at sme-signal from the Lady in the
Chair, down went the broad brow Of Mr.. Punch Il
repose on her knee, while Kings, and Ministers
and Hierarchs, and Demagogues, came rustling
round to listen.
The magic formula was silvcrly uttered. "Her,
is Thing, and Very Pretty Thing, and Wha
shall be Done by the Owner of this Very Pretty
ThingT
Answer, dear Mr.. Punch, said the Lady in the
Chair. You always say exactly what wish said.
The Owner, said Mr.. Punch, will retire. And
the Earl of Aberdeen, who had forfeited Public
Confidence, withdrew, and Britannia murmured
her intense satisfaction with the proceeding.
The next forfeit was called. The Owner, sait
the oracle, will go down upon his knees will, ir
all abjectness of humation beg pardon of all tht
world, and will humbly deposit his purse at th,
foot OF the Ottoman nearest to him. A heavy tread
and the Emperor of all the Russians sullenl,
stalkcd away sooner than thus redeem his Honor.
The third forfeit. The Owner will find n Lady
whose well-omened Christian name is Victory, anC
to her he will recite some verses Of his own making
in praise OF Chobham and Spithead. am no
much ofa poet, said Mr.. Golden. but il my FrienC
Bright, will help me, will be glad to redeem my
bunder
The Fourth. poor Foreigner, whispered tn,
oycrkindly Lady, but Mr.. Punch, sternly buttoneC
his pockets. The Owner will behave with common
honesty until further notice. A gentleman in
Spanish costume looked surprised at such desire
and said that he did not whether he did or die
not redeem his Bonds
The fifth was called, and light step approached
and somebody was heard humming melody o
Tom Moores. The Owner said Mr.. Punch, will
carry three times through the chamber something
to help you, Madame to hear your voice better
Lord John Russell smiled and said that he hoped
that his Reform Bill would so redeem his Promise
And the Dream-it is dream iashion--grew con
fused, but Mr.. Punch thinks there was n scrambl,
for the rest of the things, and that everybody
snatched what he could. Mr.. Gladstone, seizing
with tax-gather's gripe, what he thought was
work on Theology, got The Whole Duty-of Pa
per-" Emperor Louis Napoleon departed yer,
happy with Cradle Lord PalmerstOn went out
angry with Scotch Compass, which, though onlN
Just out OF the Trinity House, had an abomnabl,
bias to NE. Pope Plus ran about more uncom
Portable opprehending the loss of a French Watcl
and Guard, to go without which would his Holi
ness said, be his ruin. Mr.. D'Israeli made severa
vain grabs at portfolio, which Britannia laugh
ing good-naturod scorn, refused to let him have
and when the Earl of Derby tried for the same
thing she presented him with a Racing Game, a,
more suitable to his capabilities Several Alder
men, who had presented specimens of Mendacty
received packets of tickets, inscribed Mendicity tC
to everybody's delight and there was cheer for O
bold Bishop, who had put down a Carriage and
was content to take up little Gig. Another
Bishop-he had Fulham cut-found his mitre
but some one in unseemly SATIRE had surmounted
it with golden and most vivacious Weathercock.
And what would you put down, my dear Mr.
Punch, said the Lady of the Revel, il we begin
again
This Dear Lady, said Mr.. Punch, gracefully
bending, and proaerng an object atwhich the eyes
of Britannia sparkled like diamonds, this-which
AS your game is over, will pray you to keep in
pledge that, six months hence, l will present you
with its still richer successor.
And Britanna--the smile at her heart reflect
ed in her face-accopted Mr.. Punchs Twenty-ffth
Volume.