City Ballads

Name: City Ballads
Author: Carleton, Will

Carleton, Will

City and town life -- Poetry

And if, when Eve spied that large serpent one day,
    She had acted the usual feminine way,
    And piercingly screamed, and run, reckless and blind,
    As if Satan were only two minutes behind,
    Then Adam, man-like, had soothed sweetly her fright,
    Saying, "What do you fear? 'tisn't poison; 'twon't bite;"
    Then, catching a club, he had towered up above it,
    And promptly had pounded the devil out of it,
    'Twould have saved some hot tears, some hard toil, some disgrace,
    And been a great thing for the whole human race.
    But they treated him kindly, and gave him his say,
    And 'twas not very long ere himself was to pay.

       *       *       *       *       *

    Since then this same Satan, whatever befalls,
    Is noted for making his family calls;
    Some families--shame on the impudent wretch!--
    He stays with at times for a week at a stretch;
    And some it would seem as if, pleased with the fare,
    He had taken his permanent residence there!
    But when to his dear friends these visits he makes,
    He doesn't always come in the persons of snakes.

       *       *       *       *       *

    So the Science of Home is the chiefest of all:
    To ward off these dangers that ever befall;
    To beat back these devils of discord and sin,
    That always are striving to steal their way in;
    To use all the means God hath placed in our sight,
    To keep our homes innocent, happy, and bright;
    For a home that rejoices in love's saving leaven,
    Comes deliciously nigh to the splendors of Heaven!

       *       *       *       *       *

    Still through the city I wander;
    Still do I study and ponder;
    But with no loneliness round me;
    Severed--the black cords that bound me!
    No more my spirit is weary;
    I have a home, bright and cheery;
    Full of love's sweet, saving leaven:
    Home is the daughter of Heaven.




THE END.




SELECTED HOME READING.


  WILL CARLETON'S POETICAL WORKS.
     Illustrated. Square 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $2 00; Gilt Edges,
     $2 50; Full Seal, $4 00.
       CITY FESTIVALS.    CITY LEGENDS.    CITY BALLADS.
       FARM FESTIVALS.    FARM LEGENDS.    FARM BALLADS.


  CYCLOPAEDIA OF POETRY.
     Harper's Cyclopaedia of British and American Poetry. Edited by
     EPES SARGENT. Large 8vo, Illuminated Cloth, Colored Edges,
     $4 50.


  POETS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
     Poets of the Nineteenth Century. Selected and Edited by the
     Rev. ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT. With English and American Additions.
     Superbly illustrated. Small 4to, printed on Superfine Tinted
     Paper, Extra Cloth, Bevelled Gilt Edges, $5 00; Half Calf, $5
     50; Full Turkey Morocco, $9 00.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

City BalladsCarleton, Will

General

City Ballads

Carleton, Will

City and town life -- Poetry

And if, when Eve spied that large serpent one day,
    She had acted the usual feminine way,
    And piercingly screamed, and run, reckless and blind,
    As if Satan were only two minutes behind,
    Then Adam, man-like, had soothed sweetly her fright,
    Saying, "What do you fear? 'tisn't poison; 'twon't bite;"
    Then, catching a club, he had towered up above it,
    And promptly had pounded the devil out of it,
    'Twould have saved some hot tears, some hard toil, some disgrace,
    And been a great thing for the whole human race.
    But they treated him kindly, and gave him his say,
    And 'twas not very long ere himself was to pay.

       *       *       *       *       *

    Since then this same Satan, whatever befalls,
    Is noted for making his family calls;
    Some families--shame on the impudent wretch!--
    He stays with at times for a week at a stretch;
    And some it would seem as if, pleased with the fare,
    He had taken his permanent residence there!
    But when to his dear friends these visits he makes,
    He doesn't always come in the persons of snakes.

       *       *       *       *       *

    So the Science of Home is the chiefest of all:
    To ward off these dangers that ever befall;
    To beat back these devils of discord and sin,
    That always are striving to steal their way in;
    To use all the means God hath placed in our sight,
    To keep our homes innocent, happy, and bright;
    For a home that rejoices in love's saving leaven,
    Comes deliciously nigh to the splendors of Heaven!

       *       *       *       *       *

    Still through the city I wander;
    Still do I study and ponder;
    But with no loneliness round me;
    Severed--the black cords that bound me!
    No more my spirit is weary;
    I have a home, bright and cheery;
    Full of love's sweet, saving leaven:
    Home is the daughter of Heaven.




THE END.




SELECTED HOME READING.


  WILL CARLETON'S POETICAL WORKS.
     Illustrated. Square 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $2 00; Gilt Edges,
     $2 50; Full Seal, $4 00.
       CITY FESTIVALS.    CITY LEGENDS.    CITY BALLADS.
       FARM FESTIVALS.    FARM LEGENDS.    FARM BALLADS.


  CYCLOPAEDIA OF POETRY.
     Harper's Cyclopaedia of British and American Poetry. Edited by
     EPES SARGENT. Large 8vo, Illuminated Cloth, Colored Edges,
     $4 50.


  POETS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
     Poets of the Nineteenth Century. Selected and Edited by the
     Rev. ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT. With English and American Additions.
     Superbly illustrated. Small 4to, printed on Superfine Tinted
     Paper, Extra Cloth, Bevelled Gilt Edges, $5 00; Half Calf, $5
     50; Full Turkey Morocco, $9 00.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

City Ballads

City Ballads

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