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The Fudge Family In Paris
by
This achieved, thro’ the gardens we sauntered about,
Saw the fire-works, exclaimed “magnifique!” at each cracker,
And, when ’twas all o’er, the dear man saw us out
With the air I will say, of a Prince, to our fiacre.
Now, hear me–this Stranger,–it may be mere folly–
But who do you think we all think it is, DOLLY?
Why, bless you, no less than the great King of Prussia,
Who’s here now incog.[7]–he, who made so much fuss, you
Remember, in London, with BLUCHER and PLATOF,
When SAL was near kissing old BLUCHER’S cravat off!
Pa says he’s come here to look after his money,
(Not taking things now as he used under BONEY,)
Which suits with our friend, for BOB saw him, he swore,
Looking sharp to the silver received at the door.
Besides, too, they say that his grief for his Queen
(Which was plain in this sweet fellow’s face to be seen)
Requires such a stimulant dose as this car is,
Used three times a day with young ladies in Paris.
Some Doctor, indeed, has declared that such grief
Should–unless ‘twould to utter despairing its folly push–
Fly to the Beaujon, and there seek relief
By rattling, as BOB says, “like shot thro’ a holly-bush.”
I must now bid adieu;–only think, DOLLY, think
If this should be the King–I have scarce slept a wink
With imagining how it will sound in the papers,
And how all the Misses my good luck will grudge,
When they read that Count RUPPIN, to drive away vapors,
Has gone down the Beaujon with Miss BIDDY FUDGE.
Nota Bene.–Papa’s almost certain ’tis he–
For he knows the Legitimate cut and could see,
In the way he went poising and managed to tower
So erect in the car, the true Balance of Power.
[1] The oldest, most celebrated, and most noisy of the singers at the French Opera.
[2] The Theatre de la Porte St. Martin which was built when the Opera House in the Palais Royal was burned down, in 1781.
[3] “The Old Testament,” says the theatrical Critic in the Gazette de France, “is a mine of gold for the managers of our small play-houses. A multitude crowd round the Theatre de la Gaiete every evening to see the Passage of the Red Sea.”
[4] A piece very popular last year, called “Daniel, ou La Fosse aux Lions.”
[5] Madame Begrand, a finely formed woman, who acts in “Susanna and the Elders,”–“L’Amour et la Folie.” etc.
[6] According to Dr. Cotterel the cars go at the rate of forty-eight miles an hour.
[7] His Majesty, who was at Paris under the travelling name of Count Ruppin, is known to have gone down the Beaujon very frequently.
LETTER VI. FROM PHIL. FUDGE, ESQ., TO HIS BROTHER TIM FUDGE, ESQ., BARRISTER AT LAW.
Yours of the 12th received, just now–
Thanks, for the hint, my trusty brother!
‘Tis truly pleasing to see how
We, FUDGES, stand by one another.
But never fear–I know my chap,
And he knows me too–verbum sap,
My Lord and I are kindred spirits,
Like in our ways as two young ferrets;
Both fashioned, as that supple race is,
To twist into all sorts of places;–
Creatures lengthy, lean and hungering,
Fond of blood and burrow-mongering.
As to my Book in 91,
Called “Down with Kings, or, Who’d have thought it?”
Bless you! the Book’s long dead and gone,–
Not even the Attorney-General bought it.
And tho’ some few seditious tricks
I played in ’95 and ‘6,
As you remind me in your letter,
His Lordship likes me all the better;–
We proselytes, that come with news full,
Are, as he says, so vastly useful!