]
O H.S. RANJIT--(spelling a wild venture is!)
Wielder of willow, runner-up of "centuries"!
What's in a name? A name like RANJITSIN--
(_Can't_ finish it, was foolish to begin!)
How many miles was it you ran, O RAN--
(Bowled out again. Am sorry I began!)
In running out those hundreds, RANJITSINGHJ--
(A man were a patched fool, a perfect ninny,
Who'd try to spell that name, Ask _Bully Bottom!_)
With such a name to carry, how you got 'em,
O RANJ--(that sounds like Orange!)--those same "notches"
Is quite a wonder. Were they "bowls" or "cotches"
That got you out at last, those times eleven?
(Where is GRACE now? He has not scored _one_ even,
This season, though as close as ninety-nine to it.)
Applause has greeted you; let me add mine to it,
O RAN-JIT-SIN-HJI! (Those last three letters
What _do_ they spell?) Orthography's cold fetters
Shan't chill my admiration, smart young Hindoo!
Say, did you smite a sixer through a window,
Like Slogger THORNTON in _his_ boyish prime,
O RANJITSINHJI? Got it this time!
That is, it _spelt_ all right. E'en admiration
Shan't tempt me to attempt _pronunciation_!
Eleven centuries we to Indian skill owe!
Will the East lick the West at its own "Willow?"
Here's luck to India and young RAN--Och, murther!
RAN-JIT-SIN-SIN--How's that! _Out_? Can't get further!
* * * * *
"OH NO, WE NEVER MENTION IT.
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