printed with what now seems an almost regrettable perfection. The amiable old man was altogether too amiable. He would insist on doing far too much himself, though he had been merely paid a trifling rent for the use of the press. An edition of a hundred copies was printed, of which almost none were sold. The little boy had grown such a big boy that he was ashamed of tradesmanship. He had passed the age when he could take sixpences and ninepences with ease from strangers. New standards were imperceptibly forming, and it pleased him better to see his stepfather give away ‘The Graver and the Pen’ to those worthy of so signal an honour.

p. xvii

In fact ‘The Graver and the Pen’ was the last enterprise of Osbourne and Co. ‘The p. xviiiPirate and the Apothecary’ was projected; three superb illustrations were engraved for it; yet it never saw more light than the typewriter afforded. ‘The Builder’s Doom’ has remained in manuscript until the present time. No illustrations were either drawn or engraved for it. It marked the final decline of a once flourishing business, which in its day had given so much laughter to many people sadly in need of it.

p. xviii

LLOYD OSBOURNE.

p. xixCONTENTS

p. xix

PAGE

PAGE

PREFACE

v

v

NOT I, AND OTHER POEMS—

I.

Some like drink

3

 Prev. P 6/23 next