PHANTASMA-GORE-IA!

_PICTURING THE VARIOUS MODES OF MELODRAMATIC MURDER_. (_BY OUR
"OFF-HIS"-HEAD POET_.)

NO. I.--THE DAGGER MURDER.

[Illustration]

They stand alone on the moonlit spot,--
Sing Ho--ho! and Ha--ha! there!
One is the villain, and one is not,
But the heroine's father.
They stand alone on the patch of light
(Which comes from the left as well as right)--
Oh, 'tis a glorious place and night
For a Murder Scene! Rather!

They talk of deeds (of the parchment kind)--
Sing Ha--ha! and Ho-ho! there!
The heavy father, to reason blind,
Has them with him to show there!
The deeds relate to the old man's will;
The villain wants them to pay a bill!
The night is cold, and the night is still
Let the music be slow there!

They stand alone in the pale-green light--
Sing Hey--hey! and he--he! there!
What is this flashing so keen and bright?