The Poetical Writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck/The Secret Mine
THE SECRET MINE,
SPRUNG AT A LATE SUPPER
he songs were good, for Mead and Hawkins sung ’em,
The wine went round, ’twas laughter all, and joke;
When crack! the General sprung a mine among ’em,
And beat a safe retreat amid the smoke:
As fall the sticks of rockets when you fire ’em,
So fell the Bucktails at that toast accurst;
Looking like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram,
When the firm earth beneath their footsteps burst.
Quelled is big Haff who oft has fire and flood stood,
More pallid grows the snowy cheek of Rose,
Cold sweats bedew the leathern hide of Bloodgood,
Deep sinks the concave of pug Edwards’ nose.
But see the Generals Colden and Bogardus,
Joy sits enthroned in each elated eye;
While Doyle and Mumford clap their fists as hard as
The iron mauls in Pearson’s factory.
The midnight conclave met—good Johnny Targee
Begins, as usual, to bestow advice:
“Declare the General a fool, I charge ye!
And swear the toast was not his own free choice;
Tell ’em that Colden prompted, and maintain it:
That is the fact, I’m sure, but we can see
By sending Aleck11 down to ascertain it.”
The hint was taken, and accordingly
A certain member had a conversation,
And asked a certain surgeon all about it:
Some folks assert he got the information;
’Tis also said, he came away without it.
Good people all! I’m up to more than you know;
But prudence frowns, my coward goose-quill lingers,
For fear that flint-and-trigger Doctor Brunaugh
Should slip a challenge in your poet’s fingers!
