Chapter 36

CHILVERN'S BALLAD--THE MORAL.

Chilvern has got a Ballad which Medford sets to music. It is illustrated by tableaux vivants, performed by Miss Adelaide Cherton, Cazell, and Milburd.

"Farewell," cries Corporal Tim. "Farewell," said Molly, to him; "You're going," says she, "I'm going," says he, "To fight in Tartary Crim." (_Sadly._) "To fight in Tartary Crim!"

"I see," sobs Corporal Tim, "You're eyes with weeping are dim." "No, no," says she, "Don't stop for me, But go to Tartary Crim." (_More sadly._) "Oh! go to Tartary Crim!"

"One word," says Corporal Tim; "I have a young friend called Jim, He'll act to you, Like a brother would do, While I'm in Tartary Crim." (_Most sadly._) "While you're in Tartary Crim."

"The ship is off!" cried Tim. He raised his hat by the brim; He waved it about, While she sobbed out, "He's off to Tartary Crim." (_Frantically._) "He's off to Tartary Crim."

Now this young man called Jim, Was strong and not too slim; He was a tar, On a man-of-war, Arrived from Tartary Crim. (_Cheerfully._) Arrived from Tartary Crim.

Now this young man called Jim, He took a holiday whim; Says he, to Molly, "Oh, let's be jolly, While _he's_ in Tartary Crim." (_Jovially._) "While he's in Tartary Crim."

One day, said Jovial Jim, "I've got some news of Tim; His ship, three-decked, Was smashed and wrecked, On leaving Tartary Crim." (_Dubiously._) "On leaving Tartary Crim."

"He's drowned! poor Corporal Tim!" Then Molly sang a hymn. "Now, Jim," says she, "You'll marry me, And bother Tartary Crim." (_Decidedly._) "And bother Tartary Crim."

One night at home with Jim, Appeared a figure grim. Cries she, "'Tis T----!" "It is," says he; "I've come from Tartary Crim." (_Spectrally._) "I've come from Tartary Crim."

"You didn't think," says Tim, "That corporals could swim But ghosts know how To swim--I'm now-- (_Spectrally._) My ghost!--from Tartary Crim."

And then they saw that Tim Had fins on every limb; His feet went squish-- Cries Jim, "I wish I was in Tartary Crim." (_Excitedly._) "Away to Tartary Crim!"

He took a jump, did Jim, Right on to a vessel's rim; She made a tack, And he never came back, To her or Tartary Crim. (_With certainty._) To her or Tartary Crim.

The ghost of Corporal Tim Took Molly away with him, And plunged in the sea, And there they be, Two ghosts in Tartary Crim.

MORAL (_sung by the ghost of MOLLY_).

"Oh, when you hear that Tim Is drowned, don't marry Jim, Or else, like me, You'll have to be A ghost in Tartary Crim."