THE RETURN TO DUTY.
BY A VERY MILD CABMAN.
Recalcitration, William, cease,
James, we'll return to work in peace.
Alas! the struggle to prolong
Were useless—would be, therefore, wrong.
The Legislature and the Press,
Whom Heaven—although they've wronged us—bless!
Have triumphed by superior force:
Submission now should be our course.
And though defeated, after all,
Our loss, in fact, will be but small;
A slight reduction of our fare,
Which our proprietors will bear.
Employment will increase, besides;
Our friends will take more frequent rides,
And that will amply compensate
For payment at a lower rate.
Whilst o'er our tongue respect presides,
And courtesy our manner guides,
Of temperance let us own the sway,
And that of cleanliness obey.
Of insult or extortion, none
In terror, then, our cabs will shun;
Perhaps ev'n ladies then will dare
To constitute themselves our fare.
And oh, divesting our pursuit
Of altercation and dispute,
How much more pleasantly shall we
Discuss our toast, and sip our tea!