 | [The gallows-goers, in] The Pioneer : Or Leaves From An Editor's Portfolio |  |
100
THE GALLOWS-GOERS.
Up and make ready, ye lovers of fun!
On with your holiday dress and be gay!
Now that the Sheriff has work to be done,
Business with pleasure he mingles to-day.
Some may go hunting with guns! and a few,
Rods in their hands, little fish may pursue;
Ours is the sport which is sanctioned by law,—
We go a hanging—a hanging! Hurrah!
On with your holiday dress and be gay!
Now that the Sheriff has work to be done,
Business with pleasure he mingles to-day.
Some may go hunting with guns! and a few,
Rods in their hands, little fish may pursue;
Ours is the sport which is sanctioned by law,—
We go a hanging—a hanging! Hurrah!
Two months ago, on a rare, drunken bout,
Billy, his comrade, the criminal slew;
Murder's a deed that is vile, without doubt—
Ergo—the law will turn murderer too!
As to the place where the liquor he got—
Liquor which maddened him—yonder's the spot.
Sammy, who keeps it, approves of the law—
He goes for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Billy, his comrade, the criminal slew;
Murder's a deed that is vile, without doubt—
Ergo—the law will turn murderer too!
As to the place where the liquor he got—
Liquor which maddened him—yonder's the spot.
Sammy, who keeps it, approves of the law—
He goes for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Bright shines the sun, on the place where you see
Yonder tall gallows, substantial and bare;
Wait a few hours, and a fellow will be
Dancing fandangoes of fun in the air.
Gathered in groups at the gallows, behold
Parents and children, maids, wives, young and old,
Waiting the time when the halter shall draw—
They go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Yonder tall gallows, substantial and bare;
Wait a few hours, and a fellow will be
Dancing fandangoes of fun in the air.
101
Parents and children, maids, wives, young and old,
Waiting the time when the halter shall draw—
They go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Pick-pockets, plenty are—mark how they go
Slyly and coolly to work at their trade!
Business is business, and people must know
Too much attention to that can't be paid.
Swearing, and fighting, and kicking, the crowd
Utter their blasphemous curses aloud—
Righteous example is set by the law;
Good comes from hanging—from hanging! Hurrah!
Slyly and coolly to work at their trade!
Business is business, and people must know
Too much attention to that can't be paid.
Swearing, and fighting, and kicking, the crowd
Utter their blasphemous curses aloud—
Righteous example is set by the law;
Good comes from hanging—from hanging! Hurrah!
Look at the criminal! please ye to look,
Standing beside him, the hangman you see:
There is the priest with his gown and his book—
Galloping gaily, they go to the tree.
Thanks to the priest, who the hangman befriend,
Choking such knaves as 'twere labor to mend.
Hanging, they say, is Levitical law—
Cheers for the clergy, they're Christians! Hurrah!
Standing beside him, the hangman you see:
There is the priest with his gown and his book—
Galloping gaily, they go to the tree.
Thanks to the priest, who the hangman befriend,
Choking such knaves as 'twere labor to mend.
Hanging, they say, is Levitical law—
Cheers for the clergy, they're Christians! Hurrah!
Firmly and proudly, the culprit looks round,
Holding his head with a satisfied air;
Murmurs applauding go over the ground—
Down pops the priest with the felon to prayer.
“How interesting his looks are!” says Ann.
“Yes!” answers Sal, “and he'll die like a man!”
Elegant talk for young maidens, but—pshaw!
Shout for the hanging—the hanging! Hurrah!
Holding his head with a satisfied air;
Murmurs applauding go over the ground—
Down pops the priest with the felon to prayer.
“How interesting his looks are!” says Ann.
“Yes!” answers Sal, “and he'll die like a man!”
Elegant talk for young maidens, but—pshaw!
Shout for the hanging—the hanging! Hurrah!
Prayers are all finished, and now for the fun;
Over his features the cap has been drawn;
Ketch, and his comrade, the preacher, get down;
Crack! goes the whip, and the carriage moves on.
Wonderful sight for the Christian to see;
Merrily dancing on nothing is he.
Though there's no fiddler a hornpipe to saw,
Light are his leaps—he's a hanging! Hurrah!
Over his features the cap has been drawn;
Ketch, and his comrade, the preacher, get down;
Crack! goes the whip, and the carriage moves on.
Wonderful sight for the Christian to see;
Merrily dancing on nothing is he.
Though there's no fiddler a hornpipe to saw,
Light are his leaps—he's a hanging! Hurrah!
After the rope had been severed in twain,
Home go the people, and joyfully sing;
Heaven will receive them whom the gallows has slain—
Does not the clergyman settle the thing?
Home go the people, and talk of it all,
Children in nursery, servants in hall;
Bub hangs the cat, in the manner he saw
Hung at the gallows, God's image! Hurrah!
Home go the people, and joyfully sing;
102
Does not the clergyman settle the thing?
Home go the people, and talk of it all,
Children in nursery, servants in hall;
Bub hangs the cat, in the manner he saw
Hung at the gallows, God's image! Hurrah!
Rouse ye, good clergymen, servants of God!
Stand by my side while I fight for your fun;
Hanging preserves us from shedding of blood;
Remedy like it, there never was one.
Rally your forces, thump pulpits, and be
Clerical guards of the good gallows-tree!
What if our Saviour denounces the law?
You go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Stand by my side while I fight for your fun;
Hanging preserves us from shedding of blood;
Remedy like it, there never was one.
Rally your forces, thump pulpits, and be
Clerical guards of the good gallows-tree!
What if our Saviour denounces the law?
You go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
| [The gallows-goers, in] The Pioneer : Or Leaves From An Editor's Portfolio | |