Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/493

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TOBACCO.

475

My friend was sickly, poor, and old,
Was peevish, blind, and crippled;
My wife was ugly and a scold,—
I rather think she tippled.

My dog was faithful, fond, and true,
In sporting gave me pleasure;
I shouldn't care for t'other two,
If I had saved this treasure.

Grammatical Tautology.

I'll prove the word that I have made my theme
Is that that may be doubled without blame;
And that that that, thus trebled, I may use,
And that that that that critics may abuse
May be correct. Farther—the dons to bother—
Five thats may closely follow one another!
For be it known, that we may safely write
Or say, that that that that that man writ was right:—
Nay, e'en, that that that that that that followed
Through six repeats, the Grammar's rule has hallowed;
And that that that (that that that that began)
Repeated seven times is right!—Deny't who can.

Tobacco.

This Indian weed now withered quite,
Though green at noon, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay;
All flesh is hay;
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The pipe, so lily-like and weak,
Does thus thy mortal state bespeak;
Thou art e'en such,
Gone with a touch:
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends on high,
Then thou behold'st the vanity
Of worldly stuff,
Gone with a puff:
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.