AN ATTACK ON BARBERCRAFT br br [Dedicated to George Cecil Jones] br br br At last an end of all I hoped and feared! br Muttered the hermit through his elfin beard. br br Then what art thou? the evil whisper whirred. br I doubt me soerly if the hermit heard. br br To all God's questions never a word he said, br But simply shook his venerable head. br br God sent all plagues; he laughed and heeded not, br Till people certified him insane. br br But somehow all his fellow-luntaics br Began to imitate his silly ticks. br br And stranger still, their prospects so enlarged br That one by one the patients were discharged. br br God asked him by what right he interfered; br He only laughed and into his elfin beard. br br When God revealed Himself to mortal prayer br He gave a fatal opening to Voltaire. br br Our Hermi had dispensed with Sinai's thunder, br But on the other hand he made no blunder; br br He knew ( no doubt) that any axiom br Would furnish bricks to build some Donkeydom. br br But!-all who urged that hermit to confess br Caught the infection of his happiness. br br I would it were my fate to dree his weird; br I think that I will grow an elfin beard.