CHAPTER III. BEGINNING A DAY-PLEASANT LOOK OUT-CONSOLING REFLECTIONS-ASSEMBLING A COUNCIL-A DISCUSSION, NOT BOOTLESS-SOUR GRAPES-A LIGHT DINNER-A DULL EVENING-BED TIME-A STATE OF SUSPENSE. A council, which well as the best of them suits, Mr. President Crusoe, his hat, and his boots. Many councils, indeed, are composed the same way— A president who Adopts his own view, And councillors who have got nothing to say. That he so long remained Away from his kingdom-as if he disdained The state and the people whose monarch he reigned, And he offered to send them his boot in his stead! For a boot, if it answers the place of a king, As a councillor must be an excellent thing. The President, having pronounced his opinions, And freely discussed them, he makes up his mindThat, as 't was his fortune the island to find, He should henceforth comprise it within his dominions; That the kingdom, of which he has thus occupation, Is a desert-because it has no population. And being a desert, his next resolution, Is that it just now can want no constitution; But no, 'Tis no go, He walks to and fro, Not an eatable thing does he meet high or low; He tries all the shore, What a terrible bore (Not a boar; had he met one 't would be much mistaken, If it thought that from Crusoe 't would then save its bacon): But a desperate bore, not to find any shell-fish. He thinks of a bird, But the notion's absurd, For the birds of the place are uncommonly selfish ; At some pastry-cook's shop; He'd like a grilled kidney, or even a chop; He'd like at the thought how his own chops he licks- To dine on smoke, Though some callous folk It to laughter provoke ; It would make a man look very meagre and squalid, If he, for a week, got no diet more solid; And I must say, to do common justice to Crusoe, As a dinner is better by chalks than a whistle; And strolls out on his lawn, Long sitting not being the way of the place; Crusoe does n't well see how to finish his "day;" For his disposition at all times is gay. To drive off the vapours, He can't see the Standard, the Courier, or Globe, And that evening's Sun Has its course nearly run. His position would ruffle the patience of Job. In vain does he ponder-in vain scratched his head, He has nothing to do but to go-to his bed. GETTING OUT OF BED-A WELCOME SIGHT-A NAVAL INTERMENT-A GATHERING-ARCHITECTURAL IMPROVEMENTSHOME MANUFACTURES-DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES-ALARMING OCCURRENCE-RESOLUTION. Gathers all their waistcoats, and trowsers, and stocks, up His labour in fact all description quite mocks; And piling his trunks in a snug situation, It gives him much pleasure to view when complete; For an absolute king, So he quickly resolves upon building a better; And labour for nothing, both at his command; And a cellar for coals, and a vault for his wine, And a dog-house for keeping his Newfoundland bitch in ; And not being bless 'd with a family yet, Resolves, save one parlour and bed-room, to let |