Page:Carroll - Rhyme and Reason.djvu/163

Rh "The third is its slowness in taking a jest.
 * Should you happen to venture on one,

It will sigh like a thing that is deeply distressed:
 * And it always looks grave at a pun.

"The fourth is its fondness for bathing-machines,
 * Which it constantly carries about,

And believes that they add to the beauty of scenes—
 * A sentiment open to doubt.

"The fifth is ambition. It next will be right
 * To describe each particular batch:

Distinguishing those that have feathers, and bite,
 * From those that have whiskers, and scratch.

"For, although common Snarks do no manner of harm,
 * Yet I feel it my duty to say

Some are Boojums—" The Bellman broke off in alarm,
 * For the Baker had fainted away.