  Leather versus AN instance of calculating foresight and prudence is illustrated in the following verses. If men would rely on the mutual study of a spirit of equity, and enter more confidentially into the claims of each, what beautiful pictures, of repentant resignation to a just castigation, would be afforded, by certain of those who misunderstand the rights of property. An excellent lesson of this kind, is taught by the experience of the first tramp. He parted from the Farmer, with comprehensive impressions, of the farmer's energy, and application to business, a fact, which he took the earliest opportunity, of advertising in the nearest hospital. Thro' the second case, also runs a beautiful lesson, to the farmer, it may not have happed so well, as to the tramp, but the record serves to show, that an action at law, should only result, as a mutual alternative, agreeable to both parties; thereby the air of the Law Courts, would be considerably purified, of the stuffiness, that oppresses the impetuous litigant. Law S AID one tramp, to the second tramp,"The dark is comin' on the sun, Do you prowl in to this 'ere barn. And I'll dodge on to yonder one. "I allus likes to sleep alone, Besides you see, it runs' em tight, The Varmers, when a pair o' tramps Turns up, so Bill, I'll say good night." The chanticleer, did early trump, A tonic note, upon his pipe, And woke the husbandman, to view, How thick, and tall, his crops, and ripe. And in his barn, he found a tramp! "Ho, trespasser, what shall I do?" He cried "Shall I evict by Law? Or take the Law myself, on you?" "Well Varmer, I have had with cranks, Of legal jaw, too much," said he, "So with your leave, I'd rather you, Would take the law, yourself on me." "Ha! that's exactly to my form!" He gripped him by the neck, "Here goes! Whew! now take this! and that, and this," With that, he gave him all his toes. He kicked him, thro' the barn door, He rolled him, in the grunty stye, And up, and down, and round the yard, And then, he bunged him in the eye! He ducked him, in the horses' pond, He slung him, right across a load Of dung, he kicked him thro' the gate, And wiped him up and down the road! He kicked him black! He kicked him blue! He kicked him green! and red and white! He kicked him, till he could not kick, For then the tramp was out of sight! illustration That tramp did never more appear Around that neighbourhood, he passed Away, just like a whiff of smoke, That scuds before the autumn blast! A second husbandman that morn, Was quick astir, he fancied he Did hear, a wailing in his barn, A moan, as of the wild banshee! He thought to catch the female sprite, For truth, he was a festive scamp, But got a sort of snub, when he, Discovered but a snoring tramp! The sleep was deep, for with his foot, He had to supplement the blow, Or box, he gave him on his ear, And shouted in that ear "Hello! You'll pardon me, my friend, but 'ere, I thought, this barn belonged to me! Now shall I chuck you out myself, Or seek injunct, from Chancerie?" The startled tramp, did rub his nose, And stared that farmer, in the eye, Then stretched himself, and spoke as he, Would fain enjoy a longer lie. "Well Boss, I've been so often chucked, That it would be relief to stay, And in the Court of Chancerie, Arrange it in a friendly way." They took the case to chancerie, And argued it, from every point, But in the end, they always found, The arguments, were out of joint! The prosecuting counsel, cranked The cogs of all the tramp's defence, And also in his turn, was spanked, And thus, they cribbed the farmer's pence. They argued it, on every side, With judge's whim, and lawyer's yarn. But still the tramp, remains at home, His home, is in the farmer's barn! The case, has not been ended yet, It crops up now, and often then, You cannot tell, when it may crop, It might crop up, next week again, But when that tramp, will have to go, I cannot tell it, nor can he, The farmer cannot, nor can they; The lawyers of the Chancerie. Thus tho' we may not take the law, Into our hands, it's often meet, To serve extemporaneous writ By sharp eviction, from the feet. illustration |
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