The foreign forces for the tea campaign Arrived, a doleful crew They'd caught it passing hot in Mineing And things looked very blue So one and all these dismal Chaasz wore They never would buy rashly any Emboldened by this resolution good Their spirits rose apace, And as they stemmed the Yangtze's murky flood Ench wore a cheerful face Anon once more on Hankow's classic plain They-stood, and lo! they were themselves again.
London steamers (lucky fates Lvaded full at good old rat London buyers eager, bold Half the crop already sold. Sure such things can searce be true In this dreary ninety-two What's amiss in India, say Is she yielding to Cathay Or Ceylon hias had " blow 5 Has red spider' laid her low Not at all; from those far shores Bull will get acme twenty crores, hen the tens are doubtless fine, Strong and good, I may opine?" No, dear boy, they mostly are Smoky, weathery, rank with tar, Where' these charming traits are missed, Stalks and dust complete the list.
Prithea, then, expound to me This dark mystery of tea." Ab, my friend, Udare wot try, Ask me further next July. Meantine we're alive, you bet This old horse is not dead yet.
Hankow, 27th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.