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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']

Checker-Boarders and Keystoners.

Checker-Boarders and Keystoners

[He wired in and she wired out]

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[“The man who made that order,” said]

1.

“The man who made that order,” said
Judge B. in court, “was a meat-head.”
Oh what a head that head would be,
Just meted Judge, to match with thee!

2.

“Just roll that nigger out of court!”
The Judge exclaimed with solemn port;
“I tell you very truly now,
Nigs at the bar I won't allow!”