Punch: Punch (11.1846)

22

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH'S POLITICAL FABLES. ,

Addressed to Sir James Graham. , \ y^oH^^^^^^^fe

Apropos of his Speech on Mr. Watson's Roman Catholic Relief Bill. . \ \ >, A:\V\^^^^^Sj

The Rooks, the Raven, and the Scarecrow.

the birds peopled the earth a colony
of Rooks took possession of afield,
from which they had driven out
another race of the same colour
but different species. From time
to time some of the expatriated
birds would return timidly to
their old property, to destroy
worms and slugs, for the new
comers were very slovenly, and
cared little for the crops, pro-
vided they secured enough to fill
their own craws. Whenever they
caught one of the original Rooks
at this work, they straightway
accused him of destroying the
seed, and hung him up, without
giving him time so much as to caw
in his own defence.

At last, when the whole field was
dotted over with these unhappy
victims, and the other birds were annoyed by the perpetual persecu-
tions arid executions, they remonstrated with the intruding rooks, and
declared that the original birds should be allowed their share of the
produce of the field, which was the more just, as they had reclaimed it
from the common by their own labour. The intruders made a terrible
outcry, and declared that all the original Rooks wanted, was to destroy
the grain and them together. At last, however, they agreed, on the
Eagle threatening to destroy the whole race, to give up their habit of
hanging the visitors, and allow them a corner of the field ; but on one
condition, that a dreadful Scarecrow, called " Pains and Penalties,"
should be set up in the very middle of the plot they retained, to scare
away the old birds from this portion, which was nine tenths, at least, of
the whole ground. This was done accordingly, and a very terrible
sight the Scarecrow was, in a Bishop's cassock and apron, with a shovel
hat ; stuffed with old acts of parliament, and brimstone matches for
fingers.

At first, not one of the original rooks ventured out of his little
corner. You might see them in thousands, sitting on the rails round
it, turning their heads on one side, looking now down at some tremen-
dous slug, and aDon up at the hideous Scarecrow. At last, one
banished bird, bolder than the rest, hopped a few feet into the for-
bidden ground, lured by a most tempting worm, which he secured
thoughin agonies of fear that "Pains and Penalties " would be upon him
every moment. Seeing that the Scarecrow remained as it was—its
rags shaking in the wind, and the old parchments fluttering harmlessly
out at its knees and elbows, he took courage, and next day repeated
his inroad without any mischief. His example was followed ; and, as
the slugs and grubs were very abundant, all the old colony were soon
at work in the forbidden territory, and the Scarecrow ceased to have
any terror for them ; nay, they would often perch upon it, and befoul
it, and peck away under its very shadow, and 3teal bits of its old stuffing
for their nests.

Upon this the Jackdaw one day in the parliament of the birds pro-
posed that the Scarecrow should be taken down. It was an ugly
thing-, he said, and his last brood had contained one little wretch far
too like the image to be pleasant to his feelings as a father. Besides,
it clearly served no purpose, except to keep alive unpleasant recollec-
tions. It did not frighten away the original rooks, who did more good
than harm by keeping the ground clean, when their successors were
too lazy to do so themselves. " Take it down !" quoth an old Raven,
the Home Secretary of the birds ; " who ever heard the like ? Why,
the whole colony of established Rooks would instantly be ruined. We
should have the original birds eating every grain in the field." And
as he said this, he winked at the Jackdaw :—" Caw, caw, caw," screamed
the established Rooks, in a chorus of satisfaction. " The Scarecrow !
The Scarecrow ! It's our safeguard ; our defence ! Caw ! caw !
caw 1" The Raven then turned slyly to the Jackdaw, and whispered,
" You fool! why make a fuss about the Scarecrow ? it does no one
any harm, because no one minds it. Let it stay where it is. It will
tumble down of itself in a year or two. The established Rooks must be
respected. Leave them their Scarecrow." And the old Raven
chuckled very drily, and dined that very day with the patriarch of the
intruders, and was blessed by him as the saviour of the Rook establish-
ment. Next year down fell the Scarecrow, out of sheer rottenness.

Awful Position During a Storm.

PARTING PRESENTS.

We believe it is the intention of the League, previous to its dissolu-
tion, to present a testimonial to Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris for the
great service they have done to the cause of Free Trade by writing
with such undaunted energy for so many years against it. We are
glad to perceive that in the hour of triumph old friends are not for-
gotten, and that their real talent has at last been fully recognised. We
owe Mrs. G. and Mrs. H. many a little favour, and are anxious to repay
it. We suggest, therefore, that the testimonial—to do the thing hat. I-
somely7—should be a couple of wet blankets.

The Intense Heat.

The heat has been so intense in Ireland that it has nearly melted
away the whole of the Repeal Fund. The Rent is oozing in large drops
every week. If the present warmth continues, the dissolution of Repeal
is certain. The heat has lately been so intense that an enormous split
has taken place in Conciliation Hall. O'Connell has tried to cement
it once or twice, but it is no sooner made up in one place than it
breaks out in another.

a nice question.
A correspondent wishes to know whether the rejection of the
" Charitable Trusts Bill" will in any way affect the credit given by-
tailors to some of their poorer customers. We recommend him to
take counsel's opinion on the point as soon as possible.

l a mextable destitution.
Now that Sir Robert Peel has retired, the question is, What will
become of Disraeli ? He must attack somebody. For the want of
a victim, we should not be surprised if he turned round and abused
himself. He could not possibly have a better subject.

A. Sad Stick.

An individual, happily for us not of our acquaintance, spent the
whole of the week before the races in going about to the various venders
of walking-canes, to inquire for a Derby Club.

Printed by WfUiam Bradbury, of No. 6, York Place, Stoke Newington, and Frederick Mnllett Evans,
of No. 7, Church Row, Stoke Newington, both in the County of Middlesex, Printers, at their
Office, in Lombard Street, in the Precinct of Whitefriars, in t^e City of London, and pub-
lished by them, at No. 35, Fleet Street, in the Parish of St. Bride's, in the City of Loadon.—
S&turdat, July 11, 1346.