Ye Book of Copperheads :: :: 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]

Gotham-mites.

Checker-Boarders and Keystoners.

Checker-Boarders and Keystoners

[He wired in and she wired out]

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

“And so the lion vanished.”—
Midsummer Night's Dream, V. 1.

While it did us great harm, Abolition was the height of the Lion's ambition;
Now with Copperhead tale he stings himself pale,
And furaciously scorns Abolition.