55. LV.
LAMENTETH.
Church uv the Noo Dispensashun, }
October the 14th, 1864.
I've come to a conclooshen. I'm satisfied that Pennsilvany,
Ohio, and Indiana hev gone Ablishn. I saw it in a daily paper.
Therefore, I direct that every church in my dioceese be draped
in mournin (the same we used when we heerd uv Atlanta will
anser), and that the follerin sam uv angish be chantid at every
servis, until we git the returns from Noo Jersey.
Ohio! Pensilvany! Indiana!
Pennsilvany is cussid, Ohio is cusseder, but Indiana is
cussidest.
Weep, O my people, for lo! the hind sites is knocked off us!
Gnash yer teeth, for the states we counted on the most hev
gone the wust agin us.
Tear yer hair, for Voorhees is beat.
Throw ashes on yer head, for little Sam Cox is gone up.
Array yerself in shoddy, for we're all gone up.
Ef sich is done in the green tree, wat will it be in the dry?
I am a fountain uv lamentations — they run from me ez doth
the water from the spring.
Can we look to the South for comfort? Nay, verily.
For Atlanta is gone, and Lee rageth in vain, and Early is
chawd up egreejusly.
And Linkin, and Grant, and Sherman, and Sheridan are laffin
with much laffter — they feel good.
But their mirth is our wo, their meat is our pizen.
Can we look to the North? Not any; for that is a Sahara
Desert uv Ablishnism, with nary a oasis.
Wher is the post-offisis? Wher is the collektorships, and
wher the tother places uv profit? They are not for us.
To the East we stretch our hands, and Maine ansers, “'Ror
for Linkin!”
To the West we turn, and Indiana pops it to us to the tune
uv 30,000.
We bought revolvers in that State, and lo! we committid
sooicide with em.
We are a dove, a peace dove, shoved out uv the political ark.
And the deluge uv Ablishnism rageth wildly, and shows no
sign uv subsidin.
And we are weary, but kin find no place to rest our foot.
Bestir thyself, O Lee! if yoo wood save us in November.
On yoo we bet our pile; yoo are our anker and our cheefest
trust.
We preech in vane that the war is a failure, while yoo are
bein whipped once or twice per day.
Be valiant, for gold is goin down, and goods is goin with it,
and the Ablishnists laff, and the people is content.
Whale Grant jist wunst, and give us wun more chance.
Lift us out uv the pit into wich we hev fallen — give us
solid ground to stand on.
Then will our wailins be turned to joy, and our lamentations
to songs uv gladnis.
Petroleum V. Nasby,
Paster uv sed Church, in charge.
