Upon us fell in early youth Thenceforth our life a fight became ; We bore, as Freedom's hope forlorn, We prayed and hoped; but still with awe We hoped for peace our eyes survey The blood-red dawn of Freedom's day; We prayed for love to loose the chain ; 'T was shorn by battle-axe in twain. Nor skill nor strength nor zeal of ours A redder sea than Egypt's wave The praise, O Lord! be Thine alone; BROTHER JONATHAN AND TAXES. 257 BROTHER JONATHAN AND TAXES. I GUESS I mean to tax myself, Of all I eat and drink and wear, In papers, gas, salt, soap, and skins, The leather that we walk upon, (Guess I can't catch the thunder ;) There's not a billiard-ball shall spin, And messages shall pay, both eends, — No banker shall shinplasters make, No rider spring round the circus-ring, But shall to Guv'ment needs help bring Yankee Doodle, etc. London Punch. A LITTLE JEU D'ESPRIT : SHOWING HOW AUGUST BECAME JULY AND MARCH, AND A LITTLE MAN GREW TO A GREAT HEIGHT. For the snobbish individual, The elections of November Will take out all his starch; - Then all our friends, and he himself, For his vile and nasty politics, He is, indeed, a little man, Yet the height of Impudence. Evening Post. A HAIR-DRESSER'S STORY. 259 A HAIR-DRESSER'S STORY. The story runs, that to a certain town For teas æsthetic, and for streets that wind, Whose tactics were of the defensive sort, At least the people thought him not designed, And gentlemanly manners, for the place Thus snubbed, disgusted he has left his home Nor shall we care again to see his face ful forced inaction kept an army tried, Whose organizing skill and nice precision, Whose imperturbable, slow indecision, Deceived the trust that in him most relied. But to my story. In this city, where Dampens your soul with intellectual dew, Of costly banquet and "reception" offer, For this reunion, where professors drew Out ladies blue, A hair-dresser was sent for, to arrange Regardless of expense, that should amaze And while his well-trained fingers swiftly range From rats to mice, from curl to smoothest roll, - The General his razor did prepare, And with a cautious, meditative care His coat and waistcoat from his trunk unfold. And then the lady, thoughtful of her spouse, In gentle accents: "General, are you ready? The General, waking from a reverie, (In Spain he often won a victory,) Answered her, "No," in tone composed and steady. But soon again: "Now, General are you ready?” With slight impatience. "It is nearly time And I am much afraid you will be late.” This answer did not with her humor chime: |