“One hither pass,” an old man said, (Life’s tempests snow’d his aged head;) He oped his mouth with laughter wide, While still the clamorous vendor cried, DIOGENES! “Oh stay!” a maiden cried; the rest Around her were as much impress’d; Each looking forth with eager eye, Urging the vendor to supply! DIOGENES! Beware! the train moves from the branch; The sheets fly like an avalanche! The boy’s blue eyes with pleasure shine, While voices shout far up the line, DIOGENES! Far on the way, with breaks down hard, Two trains each other rush toward; And midst the wreck so fearful there, Voices are heard still loud and clear, DIOGENES! A traveller on a rugged mound Was in a hundred pieces found; His hand still grasping like a vice That paper with its bold device, DIOGENES! There, as he cold and lifeless lay, Smiles seem’d around his lips to play! Still in the air his accents are, And echo through each passing car, DIOGENES! From _Diogenes_, February 4, 1854. _Diogenes_ was a comic paper, somewhat resembling _Punch_ in its general features. It contained many good parodies, principally in reference to the Crimean War. ―――――――― A pesky night was coming down, As a young man pass’d through a rustic town; And in his hand he clutch’d a flag, And this is what was on the rag―― Upards! As he pass’d by three windows he chanced to see Three several families taking tea; He smelt the cakes, but never swerved, But as he drop’t a tear, observed―― Upards! A nice girl holler’d “Stay, oh stay! And I will marry you right away;” While tears all down his cheeks did flow, “Its no use, young woman, I’m bound to go―― Upards!” Said a cute old cove, “Young man, take care, There’s a rotten old pine-tree fix’d up there; Sure as eggs is eggs it will fall on your head,” The young man only wink’d and said―― Upards! Next morning at the break of day, A Shaker chanced to pass that way, And thought he heard the voice of a coon, A-singing to a service toon―― Upards! His dog then sniff’d and smelt about, And soon discover’d what, without doubt, Was the young man’s body all cover’d with snow, What carried the flag with the rum motto―― Upards!