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University of Virginia Library

Ye Book of Copperheads

Leland, Charles Godfrey (1824-1903)

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[There once was a Copperhead snake tried to bite Uncle Sam by mistake]

[A soldier came back from the war, with many an honorable scar]

[The old Tory dragon is dead, but she left us some eggs in her stead]

[There was once a young giant asleep, and round him two serpents did creep]

[There once was a Copperhead vile, who attempted to damage a file]

[There was an old Snake in New York said for peace all the people should work]

[There once was a chap named Vallandigham, whom the Copperheads chose for commanding 'em]

[With War Democrats Seymour's for war; with Peace cowards for peace he'll hurrah]

[The Copperhead lotterie hath a curious policie]

[There once was a twistified Reed, who took for his pattern Snake-Weed]

[There's a character very well known, Who bubbles for ages has blown]

[Copper stocks are uncertain to buy, though this Copperhead's stock's very high]

[There was an old War Horse, a clerical, who thought our Republic chimerical]

[The abominable Copperhead worms! With their wriggles, and twists, and their squirms]

[There was a Stern Statesman astute, who so often went in to recruit]

[The traitor our Common Cents mars, And on Liberty plainly he wars]

[While it did us great harm, Abolition was the height of the Lion's ambition]

[To show Union, a fagot we take; But 'twould be a tremendous mistake]

[There once was a Patriot whose rigor reached such a remarkable figure]

[There once were some rascals near Reading thought fighting was easy as wedding]

[There once was an old party- Wall, quite cracked and just ready to fall]

[There once was a bottle of Porter, which the Copperheads thought was all water]

[There once was a Snake who said “Hey! There's an Eagle I'll take for my prey!”]

[The Copperhead traitors all, our army “base hirelings” call]

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[“I like such Brooks,” said Falstaff once]

[In the Tyrol on mountain high]

[Och, Johnny, my gun—let the truth be sid]

[There's a song how Old Nick took a journey]

[“The man who made that order,” said]

[At a Copperhead meeting the crier]

[There was old party named M---]

[There was a small Cozening shyster;]

[There's a man at the Bar who, we know]

[There's a very bad-minis-trator]

[There's a wide-awake Copperhead cratur']

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Checker-Boarders and Keystoners.

[There was an old person, J. B.]

[There was a smart lawyer named W---]

[There was a twistortulous Reed]

[There once was a Copperhead Diddle]

[There was an ex-governing Wiggler]

[There was an old servant called Peter]

[There was a sharp lawyer, one P---]

[There was a neat sarpent—a Coiler]

[Quoth “Aristocracy”]

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Checker-Boarders and Keystoners

[There was an ex-editor, L---]

[Oh G--- T--- C--- was one]

[To the cause of his country adverse]

[In Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-Six]

[John C. passes, now and then]

[Gamblers, Wood-ites, thieves, and asses]

[He wired in and she wired out]

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14

[The abominable Copperhead worms! With their wriggles, and twists, and their squirms]

“There is no goodness in the worm.”—
Antony and Cleopatra, V. 2.

The abominable Copperhead worms! With their wriggles, and twists, and their squirms!
But the gardener, they say, will soon find out a way
To kill the vile Copperhead worms.