Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1904-02-23
THE BLACKSMITH AND THE BAKER.
tGri Cperiaitslt of Q. 3. arndon.)

There was a little city
And in il was a smithy
With a blacksmith who was wild
And dangerous when rled.
He got himself a foe -
That's easy. don't you know,
You and I can have one II we try;
But we needn't. II we don't
And we won't.
To their mutual regret
HIS foe the blacksmith met
At a bar, and they drank
Something rather rare and rank;
After drinking for a while
Their blood began to bile -
First a quarrel - then a fight,
Kicks and blows to left and right;
And at last the blaeksmith's foe,
With a solar plexus blow,
Was laid low.
The blacksmith was quickly committed to jail
BY order Of court not admitted to bail.
The coroner promptly arrived at the place,
Impaneled a jury and sat on the case.
They observed the legal acts:
Subpoenas and ~venires,
And diligent i q~uifies,
Evidence was rendered
And a verdict duly rendered
In accordance with the facts.
The case gin the blacksmith was valid and plain,
A plea OF mot guilty. was surely in vain;
And so he confessed: and il certainly looked
As though his goose was most thoroughly cooked.
But listen a moment, and I will relate
How neatly the blacksmith escaped from his fate;
A. The lay co. rronnanriro fba santarra lvau.
near,
-Four prominent citizens. full of good cheer.
Before the dispenser Of justice appear.
The mayor as spokesman addresses the court,
(Who by the way was an easy old sport,)
Your Honor - he said, I'VE all are aware
That you for our comfort and welfare have care
Remember we pray, that our comfort requires
The shoing Of horses and setting of tires.
And II to our welfare you have an eve.
You can not decree that our blacksmith shall dIe',
Fellow CitizensI" So answered the Judge.
Against the Blacksmith l havn't a grudge;
But life for a lite and that alone,
Can for so grave a deed atone -
Who blackens an eve, shall pay with a tooth
That is justice and law forsoothr'
Life for a life then let it be,
To that proposition we all agree;
But there are others. we have a baker
Ready and ripe for the Undertaken.
The baker has lived beyond his time,
The blacksmith Is young and In his prime -
A frSt-class workman. nor can his death
Ever restore his victims breath
A woTd TO the wise, that's all i say,
Your h~ighness, we wish you good day. GOOD
dayr'
upon my honori a bright ideei
must postpone this case | see
For on a case SO complies and grave
l must take time for elaboration,
And II the blacksmith's life save
1t ought TO be worth a considerations
He sought his books Of legal lore
And thumbed the pages Ger and DER
To ind some Light on the point involved
This is the question that must be solved:
II a smith is to be executed,
MAY not a baker be substituted?
The law was silent upon this point
Most laws are defective and out Of joint -
But silence is consent, the judge was foxy,
lie decided 10 hang the smith by proxy.
A more popular verdict he could not reach.
And il vas announced in the following speech;
MIR. Smith is guilty beyond a doubt
OF having snuiied Browns candle out.
Ard ought 10 hang; but how can we spare
The only man who can sharpen a share.
Rivet a bolt or fuse a break,
Whereas we have two who make pies ank cake.
In order that Justice NAV be maintained
And evil doors from crime restrained,
Then be Il known, upon my word,
The baker shall swing by my Will and accord.