POETRY.
THE ELECTORAL PURIST A LA MODE.
I DETEST with the whole of my patriot soul
The man who would purchase a voter with gold ; For of all wicked things, so to poison the springs Of the national life the most wicked I hold.
But be careful, I pray, to observe what I say ; That the gold is your own makes the guilt of the crime ; For the man who devotes to the purchase of votes The gold of another, keeps touch with the time.
Bo I get hold of Hodge by an excellent dodge ;
"You shall have," so I tell him, "some land from the Squire; Seven acres, or eight, at a nominal rate,
A farm just as big and just where you desire.
All, of course, of the best of the pasture; the rest, The poor arable stuff, we will leave as before, And your stock shall be bought from the rates, as it ought, And you've only to speak if there's anything more."
Politicians who bribe, an unprincipled tribe, Shall suffer disfranchisement, prison, and fine ; As for me, I'm secure, because perfectly pure, Though I purchase my votes, 'tis with nothing that's mine.
X.
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