The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-09
SHANDY'S DREAM.

Tother night to enjoy a few hours OF repose,
coiled myself up in the bed neath the ciothe
Obliyious alike of my friends or my foes,
Very soon was Off in dream.
dreamt that old Charon had ferried me DER;
AS soon as his boat touched the Stygian shore
"Here's Shandy Mcguire" the old rascal di
roar
With fierce and unearthly scream.
Indeed, twas warm reception got,
The atmosphere there was oppressively hot;
But imps that saw seemed content with thei
lot,
And said that I'd soon be the same.
Pluto came up and extended his hand,
He spoke in a voice could well understand,
Dear Mr.. Mcguire, / anu at youe command,
Your wish you have only to name"
To see how his Majesty relished joke,
j asked for pipe and tobacco TO smoke;
That simple request was a mastery stroke
His countenance beamed with grin
Here, by my side, come sit down and enjoy
A smoke from my pipe--you're a broth OF boy
To make your sojourn delightful III try
You seldom were guilty of SIM
His subjects he ordered to march in review
Oh, many were there, in my lifetime knew,
Jovial companions, ! saw mongst them too,
And bachelors mostly spied
"How is it," said there's few Bencdicts here"
Pluto replied with wink and leer,
Poor souls, they all soar to happier shere,
They atoned for their sins ere they died.
Engineers were but few, as the column pass'd by
The good -natured pbiz of Square Blake did
spy,
He gave me glance Of his brotherly eye,
And asked for the news from above.
| answered., " Your sweethearts tried to console
When you died, but their grief was beyond my
CONTROL
Together we prayed for repose OF your soul"
Quoth Bill, that was brOtherly love"
Railroad Directors were there in galore,
Presidents also, plentiful store;
Superintendents saw by the score
Pluto had caught them at last.
There they were schatkled both safe and secure,
Placarded tyrants on earth to the poor"
Those ten per cent. of boys ! couldn't en-.
durc,
turned until they had passed.
also disccrnd some traitors were there
A sorrowful, heartrendng look Of despair,
All Of those doube-dyed villains wear.
My pity for them was sincere.
Your Majesty" then began, would fam
Have you ease those poor wretches of part OF
their pain"
From good hearty laugh Pluto couldn't re-
fTain
And he wlsperd last Fall in my ear.
A rolicking, froicking, musical throng,
Uproariously singing comcal song,
In the rear Of the traitors came marching
along;
"Who are they, your Majesty pray"
"Why, Shandy, a few Of the boys / enroll'd,
To see that the traitors don't suffer with cold;
Who couldn't be bribed with position or gold
Here every dog has his day.
His Majesty's pipe returned and said,
"Theres many an honest man toilng for bread
Who'll better his fortune when once he is dead
tickled the Governor there.
" IF this is the region OF birthstone and fire,
You'll find good subject in Shandy Mcguire"
After my wants he began to enquire,
And spoke to me candid and fair.
Now, shandy, YOU always worked faithful ON
earth;
You earned your grub from the hour OF your
birth
You seasoned it, too, with a sprnkllng Of mirth,
And never bowed down to despair.
Receive your reward-you're possessed Of the
knaCk
To oversee imps have ballastlng track,
On road ! am building to Wall Street and
back,
To accommodate travel from there.
" Here comes your gang, they were all million
aires
Up above, aud where known as the Bulls " and
the Bears"
They gambled in stocks and they cornercd the
shares;
Please take them and handle thom kind"
"Oh, yes, Mr., Pluto" instantly cried,
"My last crust of bread with these chaps I'll di.
vide"
His Majesty smiled, for he knew that lied,
And he read the dark thoughts of my mind.
threw oil nv coat, to my cudgel held fast;
Vengeance" | cried, "for the days that are
passed
The road you chaps trod has an ending at last,
And now I'm beginning to reign"
Rap, tap, ut the door, awoke with a bound,
The Callers rich brogue in my ears then did
sound:
Arrah shandy, avick, shure is time you got
round,
And be off out ov here wid yer train"