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

Gamblers, Wood-ites, thieves, and asses,
Scrapings of the dangerous classes,
Pettifoggers malign, but weak,
Who dare not fight and cannot speak;
Trash which the war-tide rolling high
Has cast ashore in scorn to dry;
“Aristocrats” who fear to wage
Brave battle in a stirring age,
As did their glorious sires before,
Who won thereby the fame they wore;
Oh G. S. H---, tell us true,
Is this fit company for YOU?