The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-10
ODD Poems.
Verses That Can 10 tcnd In Two Entirely
Different Ways.


Some time ago a reader in the New
York Sun asked the editor OF ANSWERS
to Correspondents" to publish the
poem" about this wondrous sight
and "thc peacock with a fiery TAIL" and
so on. lie was unable TO find it, and
numerous friends came TO his assist
ancc. This Oddly, which is at least
forty years old, reads MS follows:
saw n peacock with fiery tail
saw n blnzlug comet pour down hail
saw cloud all wulpt with Ivy round
saw lofty OAK creep Oh the ground
saw beetle swallow up whale
lsaw fOiming sea brimnl OF ale
nw pewter cup sixteen fec! deep
saw we'll full OF mem tenrs that weep
saw wet eyes In flames Of living FIRE
saw house as high as the moon nnd higher
saw the glorious sun at deep midnight
saw the man who saw this wondrous sight.
In order to make sense out OF this lin
gle 1t is only necessary to put u semi
colon after the first noun in each line
except the last. The following similar
puzzle is also given: 2, =.
saw pack OF cards gnawlng bone
saw %Hog seated on Britains throne
saw M oHngc driving II fat OK
saw butcher not twclvenIoutl old
lSaw great coat all Of solid gold
saw two buttons telling Of their dreams
themes
The editor OF Answers to Cores
pondents" says:
These catches depending on proper
punctuation are very old. Ancient
history tells how n man, wishing to
learn il IL would be safe for him to 60 to
battle, received this answer from the
oracle: "lbis redibis non morteris in
bello." II you put Il comma after rcdi.
bis the translation is: you will 20,
you will return, you will not die in bat
tic" But il you put the comma after
non you get; You will 20, you will re-
turn'nol, you will die in battle" Vastly
clcvcror is revolutionary poem OF
some fifteen or twenty lines. Reading
the lines MS usual the poem is tory TO
the backbone, but reading the lines in
two sections, tho first half OF each line
and then the second half, the poem be-
comes American all through. We've
forgotten the poem, ard mention it in
the hope that some reader may have it.
We will publish it gladly.
The lines that our New York friend
is in search OF read as follows, says the
Rochester Post rprtss:
lIGrk! hGrS: The trumpet sounds, the din Of
wars alarms.
Ger seas and solid grounds, doth call us all to
arms;
Who for King George doth stand, their honors
soon will shine:
Their ruin Is ut hanG who with tho congress
join:
The nets Of parliament in them much delight;
! ha'o IhciT cursed intent, who with the congress
But tories nj the day they are my daily toast:
That soon will sneak away, who independence
boast:
Who now resistance hold thcy have my hand
and heart
May they for slaves be sold, who act whigyish
part:
On Mansfield North and Bute, r,ay daily bless
ngs pour;
Confusion and dispute, on congress cvcrmorc:.
To North and British lord, may honors still be
done:
wish block and cord, to Gen. Washington.
There are three ways to read this relic
OF revolutionary days: One rs the lines
are printed the second by stopping ut
the first comma i'll each line, dropping
the last half OF the line and going on
to the next; aud the third by beginning
just after the first comma and rcadin.
the last halt OF each line. You pay no.
thing and You take your choice.