The New York herald., 1862-02-04
THE REFINED POETRY OF THE SOUTH.
From the Southern Confsderacy.]
T9r DryyI,s yJslT TO s.OID ARE'

REV. y. P. Birch, or IA GRANGE,
Written on the occasion of Incolns proclamation for
prayer and fasting after the battle OF Manassas Revised
and improved expressly for La Grange Reporter by the
author.
Old Abe was sitting in his chair Of state,
With one foot on the mantel and ono on tho CRATE,
Now smoking his pipe and then scratching his pate
For he had heard some disastrous nows OF late,
AS fearful as death and rs cruel as fatc;
In an old earthsn jug, on q table near by,
Was 'lion Of buckeye" ', or % choice % Cd ryss
UnGer whose potent charms old Abe would be able
To- lay an bis cries IKE p on as s,aS,.
He sa, in his chair,
With wo begonS air,
G.zlpss I, Pg.hiny "a msssuing'es. stare, .,.
His check bones were high and his ys1ge was rough
Like miidling Of bacon, oil wrinkled and tough;
His nose was as long, and as ugly ami big
As tho snout OF half starved Illinois pig;
He was long in the legs and long in the face,
A LonGfeow born Of . long legged race,
Til Se nished bis political wild goose Chase
Bringing wreck on his country, and endless disgrace
On the bOckhsads whod placed him in "tho very wrong
The news had just reached him Of rout and defeat,
O his Grand Army broken-of disastrous retreat;
His best men were slain on the Geld OF tho aght
His legops wero scattered with panic und flight;
And his plans had all met with q ruinous blight
His treasury was bankrupt, his finances smashed;
His credit was gone, and his bills were uncashed;
His country with terrible foes still b@grt.
Was tumbling 70 ruin like fabric OF dit;
"rm afraid" said Old Abe, there's somebody hurt"
Twxt smoking and drinking
His head on his bosom gradually sinking
When q sound met his car
So sharp and so clear,
That he sprang his ieetstanding brsahless to hear
With his mind full Of dread, and his heart full OF fear,
Twas rot ike the roll OF the hu thunder
Nor the earthquake that closvcs the tall mountains
asuncer;
Twas no, like the storms which tumultuously sweep
Ger the lone bonding woods and the dark rolling deep;
1as 4 s5ala:igS laas isas'! Ing ssssRsas s;isRi1s'
's the Devil ~ thought Abe, the sorest Of frights,
Or rebel masked battery on darlington Heights.
On the wings Of the midnight winds it dew,
And nearer II came and louder it grew,
Till Washington City seemed all in stew
1t pauEea Just bsloIe
And then died 5-as With an explosive roar
Its the deeili' said Lincoln; and sure he's right,
For just az that moment their cleaned on hrs sight
The glare OF a horrible suphurous light,
Encirc.ing form ghastly aud grim,
That hs heart ceased TO beat and his eyes grew dim.
That form stood before him, majestic aud dread,
With large coven feet ard huge horns on hls head
Mr. Lincoln was seized with q terrible qlakipg
And the bones N bis skin wore rafting and shaking
Like the ''dry bones" in the "Yalcy of Visi6n,i'
With such dreadful collision
"a threatened 20 make 'long division
or his body and members without "lega decision"
flows your health, Mr.. Lincoln" said Old Nick with
'Ihave only stepped in
10 renew old acquaintance with your honor sg'iu.
How are Seward, and Scott ana good Mrs. L2
hope all your friends still hearty and wcl.u
Thus saying, he seated himself 10 . chair
ana gszed a. ~ Ua i Aee s WIN an lmpuoent STARE
Which he drew from the depths Of s overcoat pocket,
Consulted his watch with dsndyish grace,
said he'd make quick trip ho' the rekisee Of space
On the train Of comet, in journey subj he
Over millions Of miles in mousnt OF time.
"You yourself" (" ssid the Hend with wink sf bts eye
ncan ,, travel like bszes when danger is nigh.
And run, like the dovAJ IN cases Of need.
But oil this aside-sllow me 70 state:
have come here on busicess momsntsusy great,
Which deeply involves yoor political fate.
What means, Mr. Lincoln, tss strange Proclsnsti's,
To fasting and prayer. and To- humilisiioos
II IL strange how thrashing has altered your noops
And called into action your pious dsvotioss
II seems TO me, cir, you're whimsical SET
Ever twisting and turning like ~ eel IN aet.
You founder and fout,
And turn in and turn out,
TN my wits puzzled to know what you're Aoout,
And now in all candor, must call your attentidh
TO the truths which at present y,u allow me TO mon
You know, in the nrst place, you o~sy your esectiln
To she aid and protection
or a demagogue crew who own my direction.
invented your platform, and give a ecldt,
About 'nggers, and Freedom and the grsati higher
From the top Of this PLATFORM outotretchins ow,
showed you the Kingdoms which I sould bsstoJ;
II you aud your party would only agtee
To fall down in worship and homage TO me-
Obey my directions, fulfil my commands
Spread carnage and death over all tlesc LANDS,
By a horrible warfare, such would win
Success 10 my cause, and triumph 10 sin.
To all of those terms you most promptly agreed,
And made them your grounds OF political creed.
| gave you my subjects--the best have got,
such as Cameron and Seward and Old Cram yfcott'
Assisted by Greeley, and Bennett, and Weed,
AZ msscrsble scoundrels as Tophet could breed,
To FIX M plan for preserving the Union"
IN tho bonds OF happy fraterna communion,
rs terrible warfare OF conquest aud blood,
Snch as never was known since the day q the food
rave you my minons from the puriious Of he'll,
The ranks Of your fearful grand army 10 swell
stlrre up tic North with its vagabond crew,
And set witch burning Yankeedom all IN stew,
With lis isms and schlsms--fbna;lca trapprgs-
he free loving humbugs, and spiritual rappings
called out It's teachers.
(Hypocritical preachois)
Ind domsgcgre scfeechers,
a., martial your leaders 20 conquest and fame,
i.rl aissl TO your shame,
20 victory came,
put n pruacb aud disgrace pA the whole Yankee name
Your armcs vent iOrlh, r';i nv' TO ihe bate
They went forth TO plumber the lcts y thc'f ,atc,
To steal the young chck rs and capture The hons.
dike william Come-Trimbe Toe, y and put en- IN pens,
Ia the pages Of history, no oftisr place