Norman Rowland Gale

The Reason

  Now why did Arthur Hoare pull out
  A sovereign with a happy shout
  And give it rashly to his scout,
    Who almost had a fit?

  Why of a sudden did he fling
  A hard-boiled egg at Eustace Ling,
  Forgetting how an egg can sting
    The person who is hit?

  Why after dinner did he turn
  In fury on his room, and burn
  His old oak chairs with unconcern?--
    A stupid thing to do!

  And why so harshly did he pelt
  With forks a fresh and timorous Celt
  Afraid to utter what he felt?
    Arthur had got his Blue!