American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-11
Poetry.
Up IN 4 BALLOON.


"A DANBUEY NsLcs reporter day
Concluded he'd take Zip up 10 ihe noon
SO he furnished himself with a biz balloon,
And started oil for he milky way
But. alas for the vanity
or poor humanity, -. IL, -
Hopes that are brightest soonest must die away;
Flowers that are fairest,
Are also the rsre>t,
And visions of glory-how swiftly they fly away.
The balloon and its occupant fast t. the ground,
Than up it flew through the regions Of space.
Cleaving the air At terrible pace;
Up, up, up. past the moon il sped,
And the man in the moon he nodded his head,
And bent or the lucNle=s reporter frown,
AT which all his hopes in a Jify went down.
Up up up for a million miles more.
When ali once he espies fair shore
Gttering with sands of gold and red
Gli-ienin. with rivers of silver and gold
Arched with bright noow- overhead
While myriads of flowers their petals unfold.
Amazed he lands on this beautiful spot,
And wonders what planet he's managed 10 drop
And thinks If the folks would As lieve as not,
It's precisely the planet he'd like To stop in.
But while he's bordering the matter DER,
An elderly man who's been taking nap
In front of the massive, golden door
OF porphyry castle. close by the shore,
Walks up and gives him terrible rap
Across the head with bunch of keys,
That brings him trembling down on his knees.
In mercy forbear.
He cries in despair;
wherever ! am in the regions OF air.
Here on my knees l protest and swear
Twas untoward fate that brought ME here;
And yet. you please,
Sir knight Of the keys.
I've no objection TO stay year"
Pray who may you beg" said he OF the keys
To the trembling reporter; I'D like. IL you please,
To know who you are, what you ar, whence you
come;
Your name, occupation. birth place and home
You'll perceive we're particular up here in the sky
All Others. as no doubt you already know.
When they have the misfortune to die, go below"
I'm n reporter" the poor devil said
Ouakiug with fear from his heels his head.
- News scarce in the world below,
And 20 thought 10 the moon I'd go,
And pick up what items were lying round loose,
And send them down to the Danbury Nedcs.''
The gentleman frowned when he heard this an
And, opening book which he held, said 4 can,
Assure you you're lying. for here you must know,
I've list Of all cangS in your world below;
For some of all sorts lind their way 10 this sphere,
And write their pursuits in the book have here.
Here are merchants and butchers, and bankers and
And tailors and sailors and even shoemakers:
And and hatters. and thinkers and teachers
Shipchandlcrs and brewers, and one or two
Poor devils Of debtors. and also rich creditors;
But can find neither reporters nor editors:
SO you'll p case excuse me for having 10 doubt
And deciding to run this fine planet without you.''
In vain the reporter protested and swore
That reporters thick the sands on the shore
And avowed they deemed the salt of the earth.
Ii was talking; the gentleman rose,
Yawned once. gaped twice. then blew his nose,
Then turned on his heel,
And made L half-wheel.
Thus bringing the interview to a close,
And walked away from the quill-drivins chap,
To finish in peace his noon-day nap.
The reporter sighed pensive sigh
And dropped u tear that was also pensive;
And groaned think that the glorious sky
Although so boupdless and extensive,
And altogether SO pleasant place,
Was barred forever to his race
lie stood like the Peri at the Cate"
just y sad and discon-O late-
And even forgot, amid signs and groans,
To pocket a few Of the precious stones
That lined his pathway wherever he trod,
And answered in place of the emerald sod
Then in his balloon he straightway got
And back TO the earth in Il twinkhng he shot;
Bur never yet. by night or by day,
Has this wretched reporter been heard TO say
A single word
of what he heard
When he up in the milky way.
-DanbUry Nsars.