25. Yankee Doodle's suggestions.
by G. W. Westbrook.
Yankee Doodle's come againAmong the sons of Gotham--
Not to see the gods and shows,
But to see the facts, and quote 'em.
He heard of South Carolina's boast
That Jonathan was craven--
That Cotton was the king of earth,
And nothing else could save 'em.
But Yankee Doodle says, ”Dear sirs,
You know not what's the matter--
You see through glasses darkly smoked
With error and tobacker!
”Your darkies plough, and hoe, and dig,
To raise your rice and cotton,
And sugar, too, and cornstalks big,
And many things forgotten.
”You orter know that Yankees make
Your cotton into muslin,
And thread, and tape, and hosiery,
And ladies' wear quite puzzlina.
”Besides, they make the canvas sheets
That forms the wings of commerce,
That takes your schooners and your fleets
To every harbor on earth.
”They also make the canvas bags,
And send them to the prairies
Of Indiana, Illinois,
As the soil and climate varies,
”To hold potatoes, corn, and oats,
And wheat, and rye, and barley,
And sometimes coal and ice in boats,
And coverings for the darkey.
”They also take your rice in ships
Built by the Yankee nation--
From Charleston's docks and New York slips
All over the creation.
”Your sugar, too, the Yankees take--
Although they tap the maple,
That produces matter saccharine,
And forms a Yankee staple.
”Tobacker, too, the Yankees chew,
And smoke and snuff in plenty--
The ladies, too, if you only knew,
Send to you by the twenty--
”For early fruits and early flowers,
Before the North can raise 'em,
To decorate their lovely bowers,
Their sweethearts to amaze 'em.
”Then why this strife? like man and wife
In a domestic quarrel--
That after all must end with life,
With no unfading laurel?
”Jonathan's advice, therefore,
Is, peacefully be living,
And kind and true to every one,
Forbearing and forgiving.
”If you refuse to take this hint
Intended for your favor,
We'll show you how the cap and flint
Will cause you much more labor.“
--N. Y. Atlas.
