Black Beetles in Amber Part 13

Pope-choker Pixley sat in his den A-chewin' upon his quid.

He thought it was Leo Thirteen, and then He bit it intenser, he did.

The amber which overflew from the cud Like rivers which burst out of bounds-- 'Twas peculiar grateful to think it blood A-gushin' from Papal wounds.

A knockin' was heard uponto the door Where some one a-waitin' was.

"Come in," said the shedder of priestly gore, Arrestin' to once his jaws.

The person which entered was curly of hair And smilin' as ever you see; His eyes was blue, and uncommon fair Was his physiognomee.

And yet there was some'at remarkable grand-- And the editor says as he looks: "Your Height" (it was Highness, you understand, That he meant, but he spoke like books)--

"Your Height, I am in. I'm the editor man Of this paper--which is to say, I'm the owner, too, and it's alway ran In the independentest way!

"Not a damgaloot can interfere, A-shapin' my course for me: This paper's (and nothing can make it veer) Pixleian in policee!"

"It's little to me," said the sunny youth, "If journals is better or worse Where I am to home they won't keep, in truth, The climate is that perverse.

"I've come, howsomever, your mind to light With a more superior fire: You'll have naught hencefor'ard to do but write, While I sets by and inspire.

"We'll make it hot all round, bedad!"

And his laughture was loud and free.

"The devil!" cried Pixley, surpa.s.sin' mad.

"Exactly, my friend--that's me."

So he took a chair and a feather fan, And he sets and sets and sets, Inspirin' that humbled editor man, Which sweats and sweats and sweats!

All unavailin' his struggles be, And it's, O, a weepin' sight To see a great editor bold and free Reducted to sech a plight!

"BLACK BART, Po8"

Welcome, good friend; as you have served your term, And found the joy of crime to be a fiction, I hope you'll hold your present faith, stand firm And not again be open to conviction.

Your sins, though scarlet once, are now as wool: You've made atonement for all past offenses, And conjugated--'twas an awful pull!-- The verb "to pay" in all its moods and tenses.

You were a dreadful criminal--by Heaven, I think there never was a man so sinful!

We've all a pinch or two of Satan's leaven, But you appeared to have an even skinful.

Earth shuddered with aversion at your name; Rivers fled backward, gravitation scorning; The sea and sky, from thinking on your shame, Grew lobster-red at eve and in the morning.

But still red-handed at your horrid trade You wrought, to reason deaf, and to compa.s.sion.

But now with G.o.ds and men your peace is made I beg you to be good and in the fashion.

What's that?--you "ne'er again will rob a stage"?

What! did you do so? Faith, I didn't know it.

Was _that_ what threw poor Themis in a rage?

I thought you were convicted as a poet!

I own it was a comfort to my soul, And soothed it better than the deepest curses, To think they'd got one poet in a hole Where, though he wrote, he could not print, his verses.

I thought that Welcker, Plunkett, Brooks, and all The ghastly crew who always are begriming With villain couplets every page and wall, Might be arrested and "run in" for rhyming.

And then Parna.s.sus would be left to me, And Pegasus should bear me up it gaily, Nor down a steep place run into the sea, As now he must be tempted to do daily.

Well, grab the lyre-strings, hearties, and begin: Bawl your harsh souls all out upon the gravel.

I must endure you, for you'll never sin By robbing coaches, until dead men travel.

A "SCION OF n.o.bILITY"

Come, sisters, weep!--our Baron dear, Alas! has run away.

If always we had kept him here He had not gone astray.

Painter and grainer it were vain To say he was, before; And if he were, yet ne'er again He'll darken here a door.

We mourn each matrimonial plan-- Even tradesmen join the cry: He was so promising a man Whenever he did buy.

He was a fascinating lad, Deny it all who may; Even moneyed men confess he had A very taking way.

So from our tables he is gone-- Our tears descend in showers; We loved the very fat upon.

His kidneys, for 'twas ours.

To women he was all respect To duns as cold as ice; No lady could his suit reject, No tailor get its price.

He raised our hope above the sky; Alas! alack! and O!

That one who worked it up so high Should play it down so low!

THE NIGHT OF ELECTION

"O venerable patriot, I pray Stand not here coatless; at the break of day We'll know the grand result--and even now The eastern sky is faintly touched with gray.

"It ill befits thine age's h.o.a.ry crown-- This rude environment of rogue and clown, Who, as the lying bulletins appear, With drunken cries incarnadine the town.

"But if with n.o.ble zeal you stay to note The outcome of your patriotic vote For Blaine, or Cleveland, and your native land, Take--and G.o.d bless you!--take my overcoat."

"Done, pard--and mighty white of you. And now guess the country'll keep the trail somehow.

I aint allowed to vote, the Warden said, But whacked my coat up on old Stanislow."