TOM Rantum, a buck and comical dog, With his heart full of glee and his head full of grog, One eve to the play-house, in good sailing trim, With a swing and a hiccough went reeling ripe in. Tom collar'd poor P*****, and swore he'd engage Some devilish high-go to act on the stage. "Your Bernard's a quiz, and your Twaits is a bum, Let ME go on the stage, and I'll show the house fun." The manager, seeing Tom Rantum's gay trim, With this smooth civil speech thought to humor his whim: "What characters, sir, will you purpose to act? I must know what you'll play before we contract." "Play! -- D -- me -- your question be cursed uncivil! Play? -- hickup -- Play? -- hickup -- Why I'll play the DEVIL -- " |