TIDINGS OF GOODOld Nick from his place of last resortCame up and looked the world over.He saw how the grass of the good was shortAnd the wicked lived in clover.And he gravely said: "This is all, all wrong,And never by me intended.If to me the power should ever belongI shall have this thing amended."He looked so solemn and good and wiseAs he made this observationThat the men who heard him believed their eyesInstead of his reputation.So they bruited the matter about, and eachReported the words as nearlyAs memory served—with additional speechTo bring out the meaning clearly.The consequence was that none understood,And the wildest rumors startedOf something intended to help the goodAnd injure the evil-hearted.Then Robert Morrow was seen to smileWith a bright and lively joyance."A man," said he, "that is free from guileWill now be free from annoyance."The Featherstones doubtless will now increaseAnd multiply like the rabbits,While jailers, deputy sheriffs, police,And writers will form good habits."The widows more easily robbed will be,And no juror will ever heed 'em,But open his purse to my eloquent pleaFor security, gain, or freedom."When Benson heard of the luck of the good(He was eating his dinner) he muttered:"It cannot helpme, for 'tis understoodMy bread is already buttered."My plats of surveys are all false, they say,But that cannot greatly matterTo me, for I'll tell the jurors that theyMay lick, if they please, my platter."
Old Nick from his place of last resortCame up and looked the world over.He saw how the grass of the good was shortAnd the wicked lived in clover.And he gravely said: "This is all, all wrong,And never by me intended.If to me the power should ever belongI shall have this thing amended."He looked so solemn and good and wiseAs he made this observationThat the men who heard him believed their eyesInstead of his reputation.So they bruited the matter about, and eachReported the words as nearlyAs memory served—with additional speechTo bring out the meaning clearly.The consequence was that none understood,And the wildest rumors startedOf something intended to help the goodAnd injure the evil-hearted.Then Robert Morrow was seen to smileWith a bright and lively joyance."A man," said he, "that is free from guileWill now be free from annoyance."The Featherstones doubtless will now increaseAnd multiply like the rabbits,While jailers, deputy sheriffs, police,And writers will form good habits."The widows more easily robbed will be,And no juror will ever heed 'em,But open his purse to my eloquent pleaFor security, gain, or freedom."When Benson heard of the luck of the good(He was eating his dinner) he muttered:"It cannot helpme, for 'tis understoodMy bread is already buttered."My plats of surveys are all false, they say,But that cannot greatly matterTo me, for I'll tell the jurors that theyMay lick, if they please, my platter."