The Front Row. To see a famous acrobat Perform upon a high trapeze Contortions fit one's blood to freeze. I cannot tell the tumbler's gender, But Fox I think would not expend a Cent extra on a manly whirl, And so it must have been a girl.
But on the aforesaid night, When Fox confiding sat so near, That " star " performer from her sphere Most madly shot, and straight on Fox Came down with blow to fell an ox. But when he sued the manager, The latter did the plea prefer That Fox himself should bear the brunt Because he sat so near the front.
Then said that weighty court : "When you sold Fox that seat reserved, That he from harm should be preserved You guaranteed; your shooting-stars, Whether they 're Venuses or Mars, You must restrain, or when they set, Contrive to catch them in a net. While nothing dangerous revealing, This Fox's fate you came near sealing."
This was a frontier case; But a New Jersey traveller Who did the smoking-car prefer, And so was hurt on railway track When safe he'd been if farther back, Was blameless held, for smoke and poker As near as possible to stoker The company itself directed, That others' tastes might be respected.
239
