Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-09-10
PoET'S CORNER
FABLE OF THE wooDMAE AND THE
THIEf-OE,
HOW LINCOLN BECAME AN ABoLI-
ZIONIST.

HOW LINCOLN BECAME AN AB0LI-
ZIONIST.
The following spdghtly and well-told story
is one Of the most sensible and humorous 20
htieal fables which we remember TO have ever
read. Every one win enjoy it. The author
isHonorable Samuel B. Gookins, Of Chicago
formerly enc Of the Supreme Judges Of In
diana:
Woodman one night was aroused by clatter,
Each one in the house crying "ho. What
AIR ;-nn.d out of bed and ran hither and
Scarce Enowing amid their alarm why OF
whittier;
But soon it was found mid the tumult and
din
That burglars were making attempts to break
in.
And now there arose DER the tumult and noise
The woodman's loud summons, addressed to
"the boys"
"Tbe boys quickly came, and on looking
sround,
1t one of the windows ladder was found,
And ON it a burglar, who, plying his trade,
A bmglarious opening already had made.
Now The woodman, though making his noe
turnal sortie,
All armed and equipped at the rate Of "two-
forty,"
Called halt, and proposed, before firing a
To question with care what had better be
done.
Forthwith he assembled a council Of war,
To gravely consider how fast and how far,
In a case Of this kind it was lawful 10 go;
. lad. 1,,.E al,
said, "No."
There were many objections to that, and the
chief
Was the constitutional rights of the thief.
That the ladder was property all men had
agreed,
And as such was protected, secured, guaran-
teed;
And if twas destroyed, our greatest of laws
Could not be upheld and maintained ''as il
was"
But the others replied, "That ladders the
chief
Supporter, as all men may see, Of the thief;
Let's aim at the ladder and if it should fall,
Let the burglar fall with it, or hang by the
wall
As veIl as he can; and by the same token,
"Whose fault will it be If his neck should be
broken?'
To which it was answered, "That ladder may
The chattel of some honest man, dye see."
"Well, tben. we'll pay fort" "No, never"'
says ",
"To be taxed for the ladder III never agree;
You brought on the muss," said ", mad and
still madder;
"You always intended to break the man s
ladder;
You have been for q long time the people de-
ceiving
With false and pretended objections to thiev-
ing;
You never desired to have iobbing abolished;
You only have sought 70 have ladders de-
molished."
"Pray, holdr' said another, "perhaps while
we are triiing
About the old ladder, the thief viii be riaing
The house of its contents, or venturing fur
ther,
May set it on fire-the children may murder"
"Cant help it," says v, though he murder
to-day,
Who knows but to morrow the murderer may
Repent and reform; then who shall restore
The ladder all perfect and sound as before7
But whether or no, can never conseHt
That the thief and the ladder should make q
descent,
Which hap'Iy might hurt burglarious
Or totally wreck and demolish the other.''
The woodman babe "silencel" He cried out,
'Ho. list"
Then called on the burglar his work to desist,
And made proclamation throughout all the
town
That if in a specified time he came down
And gave firm pledge of obeying the laws,
He might keep his old ladder all safe Gas it
was;'
But if he pursued his felonious intent
Beyond the time given, he'd cause to be sent
MID the conflict of arms and the eaRnon's
loud thuLder,
A missile to knock his old ladder from under
Then pausing to see the effect of his speech,
BE saw naught but the thief still at work at
the breach;
And, being opposed to thieves visiting atties,
Combined with those vile anti-ladder fanatics,
And sent a prOjeetile which left the thief
where
Thieves and traitors should all be, suspended
in air,
Except that he lacked what was due 10 his (.
calling,
A hempen attachment to keep him from fall
ing.
Then burglars, and thieves, and traitors, and !
all
Their friends sympathetic forthwith gan to
bawl
"We're ruined! we're ruined! To what con-
dition
The country is brought by this mans abo-
litioni'
And echo replied: sob. dreadful condition!
AbOlition-bolition- -bolition-bolition"