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Who breathed a word of war?
Why, surely we are men and Plymouth brothers!
Pray, what in thunder should we cut each other’s
Carotids for?
Merciful powers forefend!
For we by gold-edged bonds are bound alway,
Besides a lot of things that never pay
A dividend!
74
Christmas! we cry thee Ave!
At such a time, when hearts with love are filled,
It seems inopportune for us to build
The needful navy.
In fact in many a church
Uprise the prayer and supplicating psalm
That Heaven would keep our spreading Eagle calm
Upon his perch.
Goodwill and peace and plenty!
Our leading congregations here agree
To vote for this arrangement, nemine
Contradicente.
Greatly be they extolléd
Who occupied the tabernacle-chair
And put it to the meeting then and there
And passed it solid!
That print has also played
A useful part that sent an invitation
To Redmond to relieve the situation
(Answer prepaid).
75
Say, Sirs, and shall we sever?
And mar the fair exchange of fatted steers,
Chicago pig, and eligible peers?
No! never, never!
Shall gore be made to flow?
Like kindred Sohrabs shall we knock our Rustums,
And blast our beautiful McKinley customs?
Lord love us! no!
Then, burst the sundering bar!
Our punctured pockets yearn across the ocean;
Till now we never had the faintest notion
How dear you are!
O love of other years!
Wall Street, aweary for her broken bliss,
Waits like a loving crocodile to kiss
Again with tears!
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