Classic Poem

A F RENCHMAN seeing, as he walk'd,
A friend on t'other side the street,
Cried " Hem! " exactly as there stalk'd
An Englishman along the road;
One of those Johnny Raws we meet
In every sea-port town abroad,
Prepared to take and give offence
Partly, perhaps, because they speak
About as much of French as Greek,
And partly from the want of sense.
The Briton thought this exclamation
Meant some reflection on his nation,
So bustling to the Frenchman's side,
" Mounseer Jack Frog, " he fiercely cried,
" Pourquoi vous dire " Hem!" quand moi passe? "
Eyeing the querist with his glass,
The Gaul replied, — " Monsieur God-dem,
Pourquoi vous passe quand moi dire " Hem?" " —