The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-08-04
Abram and Columbia.
From the Boston Courier.

Lank Abran lolled in his library chair,
Consulting "Joe Miller and "Vanity Fair,'
When in swept Columbia, careworn and pales
But dauntless and naughty mid Fortunes assail-
("Come steward, che said "nox explain ifyou can.
Why. .shan't discharge you and try new man ~
Then Abram the willy replied with q grin
"a D.tchman once said, in the county Of Quinn.
| (rhe story is old. but in point AZ deem,)
'Taint safe to swap horses xhen crossing stream
.Cease sirrah. your jesting! remember" she said;
my fields with the blood Of my yeomanry red!
The vail of the widow, the orphans sad eye,
Rebuke the rude triAing of lowly or high.
NV chi are warriBg along my green slopes
come for your counsels, your plans and your
hopes"
Quoth Abram, "Don't swap, for as sure as gun,
This thing, it is certain, must never be done.
Your biIer will bust if you bother the steam
'Taint safe to swap horses when crossing stream"
"But steward, she answered, "my debts are untold
Account for my treasures of silver and gold;
Hard taxes are rested from labOr's brown hand,
Yet pledged in nv income and mOrtgaged my land /;
Your squarderings waste what the punderers miss
Three years of your folics have brought me to
this!'
And Abram replied, as he straddled his chair,
I"You know, my dear madam, I'm honest and
square,
To sheve tried President, don't ever dream
'Taint safe to swap horses when crossing stream"
.You crouch to John Bull. for Frenclsdcspots
hurrah,
You crnge to the Spania,ds. and toady the Gar;
My shield cannot shelter poor refugee,
Ny commerce is hunted all over the sea.
How fallen am the Queen Of tho West,
Who walked among Nations, more proud than the
best"
"'Tis true" said the steward, 81 notice your fix;
But let the pot boil, and jest tote up the sticks,
Don't muddle the milk if you hope to get cream;
Taint safe to swap horses when crossing stream"
'.sir, since you persist in Your quips and your
cranks,
Where il Rosecrans, Cameron, Scott and Nat
Banks
PRAY. whv do you Swap if removal won. cure.
When Fremont was fast and Mcclellan was sure?
And oueIliny iier tears, she dcman ded reply,
With clouds on her brow and q flame in her eye.
'"That minds me- said Abram, Of old Deacon
WHAT sass for the gander aim: sass for 'he goose
Things an't at II times he, quite what they
sccm,-
'Taint safe to swap horses hen crossing stream
Enough :" cried Columbia, "my future Sec
Ruin, havoc and death in the homes of the free;
Fair Liberty stabbed by the lords of misrule.
While, thoughtless, she laughs at tho freaks Of
their fool
Thieves, clowns and usurpers in council preside,
And fraud, force and folly my dcstinies guide"
al have il r'quoth Abram, ,"as slick rs mice !
Squash IIamlin and Governments rid of its VICE;
But don't you turn tail at COpperhead scream;
'Tant safe to swap horses when crossing stream"
Colu-rIbin. disSustcd, would listen no more,
But cried in a rage, as she stormcd through the
door,
81 have kept an old donkey for nearly four years.
Who brings me but scorn and disasters and tears
vow will drive n respectable team,
Though forced to swap horses when crossing
stream"
CORDunOY.