And all the people noticed that the engine of the law

Was far less like a hatchet than a dissipated saw.

The felon very coolly loosed his collar and his stock, And placed his wicked head upon the handy little block. The hatchet was uplifted for to settle Peter Gray, When Gilbert plainly heard a woman's voice exclaiming, “Stay !”

'Twas Annie, gentle Annie, as you'll easily believe. “Oh, Gilbert, you must spare him, for I bring him a reprieve; It came from our Home Secretary many weeks ago, And passed through that post-office which I used to keep at Bow.

“I loved you, loved you madly, and you know it, Gilbert Clay, And as I’d quite surrendered all idea of Peter Gray, I quietly suppressed it, as you'll clearly understand, For I thought it might be awkward if he came and claimed my hand.

“In anger at my secret (which I could not tell before), To lacerate poor Peter Gray vindictively you swore ; I told you if you used that blunted axe you'd rue the day, And so you will, young Gilbert, for I'll marry Peter Gray !” [And so she did.

AN UNFORTUNATE LIKENESS. I’ve painted Shakespeare all my life— “An infant” (even then at play”). “A boy,” with stage-ambition rife, Then “Married to Ann Hathaway.”

“The bard's first ticket night” (or “ben,”)
His “First appearance on the stage,”

His “Call before the curtain "-then
“Rejoicings when he came of age.”

The bard play-writing in his room,
The bard a humble lawyer's clerk,

The bard a lawyer"—parson?—grooms–
The bard deer-stealing after dark.