Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-21
11oftifaI 5elrftlons.
THE PIOus HORsE-THTEF.

Behold yon mansion, on whose stately walls
The light Of morn in chastened splendor tals
spacious lawn, an airy portico,
Tall windows where the damask curtains flow;
An the refuemeuts Of princely wealth.
Yielding both pleasure and luxurious health.
Some nabob, sure, who TO the stormy seas
Hath trusted many puncely argosiesi
Some cotton lord, whose crops have never failed,
On whom kind fortune richest gifts has hniledi
Or else some baron Of the dragged" school,
Wise at time when others played the fool,
Who deal, in notes Of broken banks, and dashed,
Like Presbury, all that were not soon cashed.
Psrchnuce he ir the "coal and cattle line"
Sold on the rise, and bought on the decline.
No! none Of these-he was an officer,
A soldier, and cunning fnancieri
A vinarof the church, loved and respected,
His prayer.-"Iord, grant may not be detected!
Like crook backed Richard, he cried out with
force,
" A horse! horse, my kingdom for horse"
An agent Of the government to buy
Horses at rates that were deemed rather highi
horse worth fifty, cost his country double
The balance he kept for his time and his trouble.
Thus he amused fortune, and though tried
For this oGense, and many more beside,
The punishment was very lght-casheering,
Which he esteemed successful fnanciering
Houses he built bought lots. and stocks, and
lands,
While much hard cash passed snngly through his
hands,
wonder how that man can sleep at night;
How he can pray, or find on earth delight.
No doubt his soul is sunk in dark despair,
While every horse he stole now turns night-MARE,
To haunt his dreams, and kick him with their
heels,
Brand him with horse-shoes and hot stirTup seals,
or sereuade him with wild jawhone reels.
lis said that Samson slew ten thousand men
With the dry iawbone Of an ass-what then?
Onr man converted horse flesh into dimes,
Selling one horse, its said a dozen times.
What matters it?--his wealth can buy respect
Men bow 10 monkeys when in broadcoth decked'
"Pu, money in thy purse, and though thy head
Contain no brains the gold instead.
Get rich. no matter what the means you use
There are n thousand WAYS for Won 10 choose;
The most respectable Of which is stealing,
For that ezcites a sympathetic feeling.
So the moment is large it matters not
How vile the theft, so that the moneys got.
Bank presidents, cashiers, directors, tellers,
Are the most honored of all swndlng fellows;
Railroad contractors are likewise admired,
And a land office is TO be desired
The greatest drawback in the thieving trade
j. competitou-men Of every grade,
Whers'er pile Of tempting money le',
Are watching it with keen, devouring eyes;
Each would take it, were he not afraid
lie would by others be toe soon betrayed.
Ifthey divided, the pile would be too small,
'Twould be petty theft, and each and all
Would loudly cry against the heinous crime,
So like Miss Lucy, each one takes his time.
Meigs was trump, and Shuyier a right bower,
Hinton pattern, and our c. a flower.
Let honest men, who prize their worth Of soul,
Content themselves in poverty 10 roll
Prizing above all worldly wealth and ease
or a clear conscience with itself at peace;
Let such dull moralsts be, as they ought to,
Hewers Of wood, and drawers, too, Of wateri
Men of financial genius scorn TO bend
To labor that yields such poor stipend;
At one bold leap they mount the hill of wealth
Once there, they have no further need for stealth
Here from the window can count a score
OF stately dwellings, and upon each door
Are names that on the register should stand
OF the state prison-villains without brand.
One man holds lands which he has never paid 70
One holds an Office he was never made for;
One goes to church with pious regularity,
Ten dollars steals, and donates one 10 charity;
One is an agent for rich minor heirs,
But small indeed will oe their several shares
e O. World! o, God! 0, Avarice and Lust
lis hard, indeed, to know what man to trust
Therefore, trust none-we all are knsves--
Poor sinners from our cradles to our graves!