Lowell was born at Cambridge, Mass., in 1819. He went to Harvard college and was Longfellow’s successor as professor of modern languages at the same college. From 1857–’62 he was editor of the Atlantic Monthly; in 1863–’72 he was editor of the North American Review. He held the office of United States minister, first to Spain–1877–’80—and later to Great Britain–1880–’85. Lowell died at Cambridge in 1891. Among his poems are the “Biglow Papers,” the “Vision of Sir Launfal,” “A Tale for Critics.” Some of his prose works are “Among My Books,” “My Study Windows,” and “Political Essays.”

It don’t seem hardly right, John,
When both my hands was full,
To stump me to a fight, John—
Your cousin, tu, John Bull!
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess
We know it now,” sez he;
“The lion’s paw is all the law,
According to J. B.,
Thet’s fit for you an’ me!”

You wonder why we’re hot, John?
Your mark wuz on the guns—
The neutral guns, thet shot, John,
Our brothers an’ our sons.
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess
There’s human blood,” sez he,
“By fits an’ starts, in Yankee hearts,
Though’t may surprise J. B.
More ’n it would you an’ me.”

When your rights was our wrongs, John,
You didn’t stop for fuss—
Britanny’s trident prongs, John,
Was good ’nough law for us.
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess,
Though physic’s good,” sez he,
“It doesn’t foller thet he can swaller
Prescriptions signed ‘J. B.’,
Put up by you an’ me!”

We own the ocean, tu, John;
You mus’n’t take it hard,
Ef we can’t think with you, John,
It’s jest your own back yard.
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess,
Ef thet’s his claim,” sez he,
“The fencin’ stuff’ll cost enough
To bust up friend J. B.,
Ez wal ez you an’ me!”

We know we’ve got a cause, John,
Thet’s honest, just, an’ true;
We thought ’twould win applause, John,
Ef nowheres else, from you.
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess
His love of right,” sez he,
“Hangs by a rotten fibre o’ cotton;
There’s natur’ in J. B.,
Ez wal ez you an’ me!”

God means to make this land, John,
Clear thru, from sea to sea,
Believe an’ understand, John,
The wuth o’ being free.
Ole Uncle S., sez he, “I guess
God’s price is high,” sez he;
“But nothin’ else than wut he sells
Wears long, an’ thet J. B.
May larn, like you an’ me.”