“Avoid that knife! in frequent strife its blade, so long and thin, Has found itself a resting place his rival’s ribs within.” But coward fear came never near young Jabez Dollar’s heart; “Were he an alligator, I would rile him pretty smart!” Then up he rose, and cleared his nose, and looked toward the chair, He saw the stately stars and stripes—our country’s flag was there! His heart beat high, with savage cry upon the floor he sprang, Then raised his wrist, and shook his fist, and spoke his first harangue. “Who sold the nutmegs made of wood, the clocks that wouldn’t figure? Who grinned the bark off gum-trees dark—the everlasting nigger? For twenty cents, ye Congress gents, through ’tarnity I’ll kick That man, I guess, though nothing less than coon-faced Colonel Slick!” The Colonel smiled—with frenzy wild—his very beard waxed blue— His shirt it could not hold him, so wrathy riled he grew; He foams and frets, his knife he whets upon his seat below— He sharpens it on either side, and whittles at his toe; “Oh! waken snakes, and walk your chalks!” he cried, with ire elate, “Darn my old mother but I will in wild cats whip my weight! Oh! ’tarnel death, I’ll spoil your breath, young Dollar, and your chaffing— Look to your ribs, for here is that will tickle them without laughing!” His knife he raised—with fury crazed he sprang across the hall— He cut a caper in the air—he stood before them all: He never stopped to look or think if he the deed should do, But spinning sent the president, and on young Dollar flew. They met—they closed—they sunk—they rose—in vain young Dollar strove— For, like a streak of lightning greased, the infuriate colonel drove His bowie blade deep in his side, and to the ground they rolled, And, drenched in gore, wheeled o’er and o’er, locked in each other’s hold. With fury dumb—with nail and thumb—they struggled and they thrust— The red blood ran from Dollar’s side, like rain upon the dust; He nerved his might for one last spring, and as he sunk and died, Reft of an eye, his enemy fell groaning at his side. Thus did he fall within the hall of Congress, that brave youth; The bowie-knife hath quenched his life of valor and of truth; And still among the statesmen throng at Washington they tell, How nobly Dollar gouged his man—how gallantly he fell.