I'd bin to work hard all the week, and I felt rather snoozy. I'm 'fraid I did git half asleep, for on hearin the minister ask, "Why was man made to mourn?" I sed, "I giv it up," havin a vague idee that it was a condrum. It was a onfortnit remark, for the whole meetin house lookt at me with mingled surprise and indignation. I was about risin to a pint of order, when it suddenly occurd to me whare I was, and I kept my seat, blushin like the red, red rose—so to speak.
The next mornin I 'rose with the lark (N.B.—I don't sleep with the lark, tho.' A goak).
My little dawter was execootin ballids, accompanyin herself with the Akordeon, and she wisht me to linger and hear her sing: "Hark I hear a angel singin, a angel now is onto the wing."
"Let him fly, my child!" sed I, a-bucklin on my armer; "I must forth to my Biz."
We air progressin pretty well with our drill. As all air commandin offissers, there ain't no jelusy, and as we air all exceedin smart, it t'aint worth while to try to outstrip each other. The idee of a company composed excloosively of Commanders-in-Chiefs, orriggernated, I spose I skurcely need say, in these Brane. Considered AS a idee, I flatter myself it is putty hefty. We've got all the tackticks at our tongs' ends, but what we particly excel in is restin muskits. We can rest muskits with anybody.
Our corpse will do its dooty. We go to the aid of Columby—we fight for the stars!
We'll be chopt into sassige meat before we'll exhibit our cote-tales to the foe.
We'll fight till there's nothin left of us but our little toes and even they shall defiantly wiggle!
| "Ever of thee," | |
| A. Ward. |
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