There are two such pieces among the writer’s literary curiosities and he regards them as, perhaps, the most unique. The first one is as follows—
John Knox was a man of wondrous might,
And his words ran high and shrill,
For bold and stout was his spirit bright,
And strong was his stalwart will.
Kings sought in vain his mind to chain,
And that giant brain to control,
But naught on plain or stormy main
Could daunt that mighty soul.
John would sit and sigh till morning cold
Its shining lamp put out,
For thoughts untold on his mind laid hold,
And brought but pain and doubt.
But light at last on his soul was cast,
Away sank pain and sorrow—
His soul is gay in a fair to-day
And looks for a bright to-morrow.
The first word in the second line of the third stanza is evidently a misprint. “Night’s” is most likely the word used by the author, meaning that the coming of the morn extinguished the stars—
Night’s shining lights put out.
Here is the other specimen, which is even more ingenious than that just quoted, each stanza containing every member of the alphabet except the letter “e”—
Bold Nassaw quits his caravan
A hazy mountain grot to scan;
Climbs jaggy rocks to spy his way,
Doth tax his sight, but far doth stray.
Not work of man nor sport of child
Finds Nassaw in that mazy wild;
Lax grow his joints, limbs toil in vain;
Poor wight, why didst thou quit that plain?