The Mock Auction; Ossawatomie Sold

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1860 Excerpt: ... CANTO VIII. Now let us take a hasty peep, Over the land of peaceful sleep, Where living virtues reign supreme, And cruel rapine is a dream; Where baneful riots never come, Venturing from their native home; But commerce spreads her ample sails, Or rides by steam upon the rails; And daily toils her implements Of industry, on some wise intents, Where we never hear of strikes, or fraud, Except when coming from abroad, Nor drunken rout, nor mad'ning spree, Nor songs of wanton revelry, No virago preacher of the Free Love--nor petticoated M. D. Where treason, holding no position, We have yet to hear of sedition; Where people all are satisfied, And friendly, vote side to side, On various questions as they ought; Votes and honors never bought, For who among us is so bold As to offer up his purse of gold, To our men of worth and labor; He might surmise what he'd incur, Eye of darkest hue before the sale, And with music, riding on a rail. These are the people! this the land! For the inroads of a frantic band; Did Craven Heart? Ossavrutomie?.. Or, Treason's Trumpeter, ever see I" Well over the quiet border, This nation of lore and good order? Save thro' their petty, shilling spy-glass. With oblique view, immersed in native brass; Has Money Cut, or Silent Thought, In their fanaticism sought To know those dangerous folks, On whom they wish to play their jokes; Have they ever looked into the worst, Stopped a moment to count the cost Of this whimsical invasion, Against the moral Institution. You hear them say, volcar.o's sleep, And that beneath us, there is a heap Of dire, concealed combustible, Enough to flame up many people, And they themselves possess the match, To stick into this fiery batch; Whether Lucifer, French, or Friction, Would perform this goodly action We wil...