Fit the Fifth - The Beaver's Lesson
Then the Butcher contrived an ingenious plan
But the very same plan to the Beaver occurred:
Each thought he was thinking of nothing but "Snark"
But the valley grew narrow and narrower still,
Then a scream, shrill and high, rent the shuddering sky,
He thought of his childhood, left far far behind--
"'Tis the voice of the Jubjub!" he suddenly cried.
"'Tis the note of the Jubjub! Keep count, I entreat;
The Beaver had counted with scrupulous care,
It felt that, in spite of all possible pains,
"Two added to one--if that could but be done,"
"The thing can be done," said the Butcher, "I think.
The Beaver brought paper,portfolio, pens,
So engrossed was the Butcher, he heeded them not,
"Taking Three as the subject to reason about--
"The result we proceed to divide, as you see,
"The method employed I would gladly explain,
"In one moment I've seen what has hitherto been
In his genial way he proceeded to say
"As to temper the Jubjub's a desperate bird,
"But it knows any friend it has met once before:
" Its flavor when cooked is more exquisite far
"You boil it in sawdust: you salt it in glue:
The Butcher would gladly have talked till next day,
While the Beaver confessed, with affectionate looks
They returned hand-in-hand, and the Bellman, unmanned
Such friends, as the Beaver and Butcher became,
And when quarrels arose--as one frequently finds