MRS. GRUNDY.

Her will is law. She holds despotic sway.

Her wont has been to show the narrow way

Wherein must tread the world, the bright, the brave,

From infancy to dotard's gloomy grave.

"Obey! Obey!" with sternness she commands

The high, the low, in great or little lands.

She folds us all within her ample gown.

A forward act is met with angry frown.

The lisping babes are taught her local speech;

Her gait to walk; her blessings to beseech.

They laugh or cry, as Mistress says they may,—

In everything the little tots obey.

The youth know naught save Mrs. Grundy's whims.

They play her games. They sing her holy hymns.

They question not; accept both truth and fiction,

(The OLD is right, within her jurisdiction!).

Maid, matron, man unto her meekly bow.

She with contempt or ridicule may cow.

They dare not speak, or dress, or love, or hate,

At variance with the program on her slate.

Her subtle smile, e'en men to thinkers grown,

Are loath to lose; before its charm they're prone.

With great ado, they publicly conform—

Vain, cowards, vain; revolt MUST raise a storm!

The "indiscreet," when hidden from her sight,

Attempt to live as they consider "right."

Lo! Walls have ears! The loyal everywhere

The searchlight turn, and loudly shout, "Beware!"

In tyranny the Mistress is supreme.

"Obedience," that is her endless theme.

Al countries o'er, in city, town and glen,

Her aid is sought by bosses over men.

Of Greed, her brain is cunningly devised.

From Ignorance, her bulky body's sized.

When at her ease, she acts as judge and jury.

But she's the Mob when 'roused to fighting fury.

Dame Grundy is, by far, the fiercest foe

To ev'ry kind of progress, that we know.

So Freedom is, to her, a poison thing.

Who heralds it, he must her death knell ring.