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An' marched round in front of a drum an' a fife;

To git some on 'em office; an' some on 'em votes;

But John P。

Robinson he

Sez they didn't know everythin' down in Judee。



Wal; it's a marcy we've gut folks to tell us

The rights an' the wrongs o' these matters; I vow; …

God sends country lawyers; an' other wise fellers;

To start the world's team wen it gits in a slough;

Fer John P。

Robinson he

Sez the world'll go right; ef he hollers out Gee!



James Russell Lowell '1819…1891'





THE DEBATE IN THE SENNIT

Sot To A Nursery Rhyme



〃Here we stan' on the Constitution; by thunder!

It's a fact o' wich ther's bushils o' proofs;

Fer how could we trample on 't so; I wonder;

Ef't worn't thet it's ollers under our hoofs?〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he;

〃Human rights haint no more

Right to come on this floor;

No more'n the man in the moon;〃 sez he。



〃The North haint no kind o' bisness with nothin';

An' you've no idee how much bother it saves;

We aint none riled by their frettin' an' frothin';

We're used to layin' the string on our slaves;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

Sez Mister Foote;

〃I should like to shoot

The holl gang; by the gret horn spoon!〃 sez he。



〃Freedom's Keystone is Slavery; thet ther's no doubt on;

It's sutthin' thet's … wha'd'ye call it? … divine; …

An' the slaves thet we ollers make the most out on

Air them north o' Mason an' Dixon's line;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Fer all thet;〃 sez Mangum;

〃'T would be better to hang 'em

An' so git red on 'em soon;〃 sez he。



〃The mass ough' to labor an' we lay on soffies;

Thet's the reason I want to spread Freedom's aree;

It puts all the cunninest on us in office;

An' reelises our Maker's orig'nal idee;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Thet's ez plain;〃 sez Cass;

〃Ez thet some one's an ass;

It's ez clear ez the sun is at noon;〃 sez he。



〃Now don't go to say I'm the friend of oppression;

But keep all your spare breath fer coolin' your broth;

Fer I ollers hev strove (at least thet's my impression)

To make cussed free with the rights o' the North;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Yes;〃 sez Davis o' Miss。;

〃The perfection o' bliss

Is in skinnin' that same old coon;〃 sez he。



〃Slavery's a thing thet depends on complexion;

It's God's law thet fetters on black skins don't chafe;

Ef brains wuz to settle it (horrid reflection!)

Wich of our onnable body'd be safe?〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

Sez Mister Hannegan;

Afore he began agin;

〃Thet exception is quite oppertoon;〃 sez he。



〃Gen'nle Cass; Sir; you needn't be twitchin' your collar;

Your merit's quite clear by the dut on your knees;

At the North we don't make no distinctions o' color:

You can all take a lick at our shoes wen you please;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

Sez Mister Jarnagin;

〃They wun't hev to larn agin;

They all on 'em know the old toon;〃 sez he。



〃The slavery question aint no ways bewilderin';

North an' South hev one int'rest; it's plain to a glance;

No'thern men; like us patriarchs; don't sell their childrin;

But they du sell themselves; ef they git a good chance;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

Sez Atherton here;

〃This is gittin' severe;

I wish I could dive like a loon;〃 sez he。



〃It'll break up the Union; this talk about freedom;

An' your fact'ry gals (soon ex we split) 'll make head;

An' gittin' some Miss chief or other to lead 'em;

'll go to work raisin' permiscoous Ned;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Yes; the North;〃 sez Colquitt;

〃Ef we Southeners all quit;

Would go down like a busted balloon;〃 sez he。



〃Jest look wut is doin'; wut annyky's brewin'

In the beautiful clime o' the olive an' vine;

All the wise aristoxy's atumblin' to ruin;

An' the sankylot's drorin' an' drinkin' their wine;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Yes;〃 sez Johnson; 〃in France

They're beginnin' to dance

Beelzebub's own rigadoon;〃 sez he。



〃The South's safe enough; it don't feel a mite skeery;

Our slaves in their darkness an' dut air tu blest

Not to welcome with proud hallylugers the ery

Wen our eagle kicks yourn from the naytional nest;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Oh;〃 sez Westcott o' Florida;

〃Wut treason is horrider

Than our priv'leges tryin' to proon?〃 sez he。



〃It's 'coz they're so happy; thet; wen crazy sarpints

Stick their nose in our bizness; we git so darned riled;

We think it's our dooty to give pooty sharp hints;

Thet the last crumb of Edin on airth sha'n't be spiled;〃

Sez John C。 Calhoun; sez he; …

〃Ah;〃 sez Dixon H。 Lewis;

〃It perfectly true is


Thet slavery's airth's grettest boon;〃 sez he。



James Russell Lowell '1819…1891'





THE MARQUIS OF CARABAS

A Song With A Stolen Burden



Off with your hat! along the street

His Lordship's carriage rolls;

Respect to greatness … when it shines

To cheer our darkened souls。

Get off the step; you ragged boys!

Policeman; where's your staff?

This is a sight to check with awe

The most irreverent laugh。

Chapeau bas!

Chapeau bas!

Gloire au Marquis de Carabas!



Stand further back! we'll see him well;

Wait till they lift him out:

It takes some time; his Lordship's old;

And suffers from the gout。

Now look! he owns a castled park

For every finger thin;

He has more sterling pounds a day

Than wrinkles in his skin。



The founder of his race was son

To a king's cousin; rich;

(The mother was an oyster wench …

She perished in a ditch)。

His patriot worth embalmed has been

In poets' loud applause:

He made twelve thousand pounds a year

By aiding France's cause。



The second marquis; of the stole

Was groom to the second James;

He all but caught that recreant king

When flying o'er the Thames。

Devotion rare! by Orange Will

With a Scotch county paid;

He gained one more … in Ireland … when

Charles Edward he betrayed。



He lived to see his son grow up

A general famed and bold;

Who fought his country's fights … and one;

For half a million; sold。

His son (alas! the house's shame)

Frittered the name away:

Diced; wenched and drank … at last got shot;

Through cheating in his play!



Now; see; where; focused on one head;

The race's glories shine:

The head gets narrow at the top;

But mark the jaw … how fine!

Don't call it satyr…like; you'd wound

Some scores; whose honest pates

The self…same type present; upon

The Carabas estates!



Look at his skin … at four…score years

How fresh it gleams and fair:

He never tasted ill…dressed food;

Or breathed in tainted air。

The noble blood glows through his veins

Still; with a healthful pink;

His brow scarce wrinkled! … Brows keep so

That have not got to think。



His hand 's ungloved! … it shakes; 'tis true;

But mark its tiny size; 

(High birth's true sign) and shape; as on

The lackey's arm it lies。 

That hand ne'er penned a useful line;

Ne'er worked a deed of fame;

Save slaying one; whose sister he …

Its owner … brought to shame。



They ye got him in … he's gone to vote

Your rights and mine away;

Perchance our lives; should men be scarce;

To fight his cause for pay。 

We are his slaves! he owns our lands;

Our woods; our seas; and skies;

He'd have us shot like vicious dogs;

Should we in murmuring rise!

Chapeau bas!

Chapeau bas!

Gloire au Marquis de Carabas!



Robert Brough '1828…1860'





A MODEST WIT 



A supercilious nabob of the East … 

Haughty; being great … purse…proud; being rich …

A governor; or general; at the least;

I have forgotten which …



Had in his family a humble youth;

Who went from England in his patron's suit;

An unassuming boy; in truth

A lad of decent parts; and good repute。



This youth had sense and spirit;

But yet with all his sense;

Excessive diffidence

Obscured his merit。



One day; at table; flushed with pride and wine;

His Honor; proudly free; severely merry;

Conceived it would be vastly fine

To crack a joke upon his secretary。



〃Young man;〃 he said; 〃by what art; craft; or trade;

Did your good father gain a livelihood?〃 …

〃He was a saddler; sir;〃 Modestus said;

〃And in his time was reckoned good。〃



〃A saddler; eh! and taught you Greek;

Instead of teaching you to sew!

Pray; why did not your father make

A saddler; sir; of you?〃



Each parasite; then; as in duty bound;

The joke applauded; and the laugh went round。

At length Modestus; bowing low;

Said (craving pardon; if too free he made);

〃Sir; by your leave; I fain would know

Your father's trade!〃



〃My father's trade! by heaven; that's too bad!

My father's trade?  Why; blockhead; are you mad?

My father; sir; did never stoop so low …

He was a gentleman; I'd have you know。〃



〃Excuse the liberty I take;〃

Modestus said; with archness on his brow;

〃Pray; why did not your father make

A gentleman of you?〃



Selleck Osborn '1783…1826'





JOLLY JACK



When fierce political debate

Throughout the isle was storming;

And Rads attacked the throne and state;

And Tories the reforming;

To calm the furious rage of each;

And right the land demented;

Heaven sent us Jolly Jack; to teach

The way to be contented。



Jack's bed was straw; 'twas warm and soft;

His chair; a three…legged stool;

His broken jug was emptied oft;

Yet; somehow; always full。

His mistress' portrait decked the wall;

His mirror had a crack;

Yet; gay and glad; though this was all

His wealth; lived Jolly Jack。



To give advice to avarice;

Teach pride its mean condition;

And preach good sense to dull pretence;

Was honest Jack's high mission。

Our simple statesman found his rule

Of moral in the flagon;

And held his philosophic school

Beneath the 〃George and Dragon〃



When village Solons cursed the Lords;

And called the malt…tax sinful;

Jack heeded not their angry words;

But smiled and drank his s

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