"Twere no great loss," the friend replies;
"For if they always serve you thus,
You'll find them of but little use."
So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows,
When, luckily, came by a third:
To him the question they referred,
And begged he'd tell them, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.
"Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother;
The creature's neither one nor t'other.
I caught the animal last night,
And viewed it o'er by candlelight;
I marked it well; 'twas black as jet!
You stare; but, sirs, I've got it yet,
And can produce it."- Pray, sir, do;
I'll lay my life the thing is blue."

66

"And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen The reptile, you 'll pronounce him green." 'Well, then, at once to ease the doubt," Replies the man, "I'll turn him out; And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him." He said, and full before their sight

Produced the beast, and, lo!-'twas white. Both stared: the man looked wondrous wise: "My children," the chameleon cries (Then first the creature found a tongue), "You all are right, and all are wrong: When next you talk of what you view, Think others see as well as you; Nor wonder if you find that none Prefers your eyesight to his own."

-MERRICK.