Page:Carroll - Rhyme and Reason.djvu/164



roused him with muffins—they roused him with ice—
 * They roused him with mustard and cress—

They roused him with jam and judicious advice—
 * They set him conundrums to guess.

When at length he sat up and was able to speak,
 * His sad story he offered to tell;

And the Bellman cried "Silence! Not even a shriek!"
 * And excitedly tingled his bell.

There was silence supreme! Not a shriek, not a scream;
 * Scarcely even a howl or a groan,

As the man they called "Ho!" told his story of woe
 * In an antediluvian tone.