Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature By Charles Mackay |
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THE TOP SAWYER OF ROTTENTOWN,
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 | Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature |  |
192
THE TOP SAWYER OF ROTTENTOWN,
AND HOW HE VOTED.
No, No! Master Dodge,
You're a clever lawyer,
But I'm not your man—
I'm my own Top Sawyer.
I've a loving wife;
I've a son and daughter;
I've a ten-pound note,
Beef, and Bread, and Water.
If I fancy Wine,
I've the cash to buy it;
And my right arm's strong—
Would you like to try it?
You're a clever lawyer,
But I'm not your man—
I'm my own Top Sawyer.
I've a loving wife;
I've a son and daughter;
I've a ten-pound note,
Beef, and Bread, and Water.
If I fancy Wine,
I've the cash to buy it;
And my right arm's strong—
Would you like to try it?
193
I've a vote, I know,
And I mean to use it
As I please myself,
Not as you may choose it;—
Not a vote to sell
For your dirty guineas—
Baits that only catch
Knaves and stupid ninnies.
Think you, Master Dodge,
I resemble either?
If I do, I'm dead;
If I live, I'm neither!
And I mean to use it
As I please myself,
Not as you may choose it;—
Not a vote to sell
For your dirty guineas—
Baits that only catch
Knaves and stupid ninnies.
Think you, Master Dodge,
I resemble either?
If I do, I'm dead;
If I live, I'm neither!
He who asks my vote
Must, if I support him,
Hold the patriot's course
When the factious court him.
He must know the right;
Love the people duly;
Teach them when they're wrong;
Serve them well and truly!
And when England fights,
With the world upon her,
He must aid her cause,
And maintain her honour.
Must, if I support him,
Hold the patriot's course
When the factious court him.
He must know the right;
Love the people duly;
Teach them when they're wrong;
Serve them well and truly!
194
With the world upon her,
He must aid her cause,
And maintain her honour.
He must hold the scales
Evenly for all men—
Justly for the great,
Fairly for the small men.
Friendly to the poor—
When hard taxes grieve them,
He must help the State
Wisely to relieve them;
And must own the truth,
That a Christian nation
Owes its meanest child
Healthful education!
Evenly for all men—
Justly for the great,
Fairly for the small men.
Friendly to the poor—
When hard taxes grieve them,
He must help the State
Wisely to relieve them;
And must own the truth,
That a Christian nation
Owes its meanest child
Healthful education!
Yet I'll give no vote
To an idle meddler,
Or a busy drone
Higgling like a peddler;
To a man who prates
In and out of season,
Thinking Wisdom's self
Meaner than his reason;
With no larger views
Than his parish offers;—
Him I'll not support,
Whatsoe'er he proffers.
To an idle meddler,
Or a busy drone
Higgling like a peddler;
195
In and out of season,
Thinking Wisdom's self
Meaner than his reason;
With no larger views
Than his parish offers;—
Him I'll not support,
Whatsoe'er he proffers.
No! I want a man
True, and good, and hearty,
Loving England more
Than he loves his party;
In great Freedom's troop,
Who will serve unheeding,
Soldier in the ranks,
Or a Captain leading!
If such man I find,
Be he Jones or Hodges,
He shall have my vote,
Spite of all the Dodges!
True, and good, and hearty,
Loving England more
Than he loves his party;
In great Freedom's troop,
Who will serve unheeding,
Soldier in the ranks,
Or a Captain leading!
If such man I find,
Be he Jones or Hodges,
He shall have my vote,
Spite of all the Dodges!
| Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature | |