Mrs. Merdle Discourseth Of Wishes And Her Sufferings.

'If wishes were horses'--I've heard when a girl--     'If wishes were horses, the beggars would ride'--     If wishes were pheasants, I'd wish with a skirl     Till cooked ones came flying and sat by my side.     A fig, then, for doctors, their tinctures and drugs;     Good eating would cure me, with plenty of game;     And as for pill boxes, and bottles, and jugs,     I wouldn't know one, when I saw it, by name.     Oh, dear! such a load now my stomach oppresses,     While eating these trifles, attempting to dine--     I'm sure 'taint the turkey--it must be my dresses--     And if so 't will ease them to sip sherry wine.     'Tis sad, though, to be such a sad invalid--     Dear me, Colonel Dinewell, you've done eating meat--     Your doctor, like mine, I hope hasn't forbid,     That you shouldn't have, as I do, so little to eat.     Ah! well then, I see, though I've hardly begun,     The meats and the solids must go right away;     So bring in the pudding, if Susan's got one,     Which will for a while one's appetite stay.