His task accomplished, back the Spirit flew
To Heaven's Chancery, as bade to do,
And from his vestments took the mystic scroll
That named each potentate, from Pole to Pole.
Recording Angels glanced it sharply o'er,
To note each change from what the Records bore;
But found no nations changing potentates
Until they came to the United States.
"Another President!" the angels sighed,
"Another President!" the Fates replied;
And straight a pen the Chief Recorder took
To write the ruler's name within his book.
He wrote—(alas! 'twill hardly be believed
The very angels could be so deceived)—
He wrote the name that all his sprites might read—
Not Abr'am Lincoln; no! but—Thurlow Weed.
!! * * * !! * * * !!
We were all silent after that, my boy, and says the old British chap:
"The next manuscript expresses the conservative sentiment of Britain's Isle, the measure being peculiar and the manner inquiring. Hattention!—
THE WAR.
BY SIDNEY DOBELL.
I.