(_Latest Version, with apologies to Lady Dufferin._)
[Senator CHANDLER, in _The North-American Review_, recommends that
immigration into the United States should be suspended, at least
for a year.]
Oi'm sittin' on the stile, MARY, an' lookin' o'er the tide,
An' by jabers Oi'm afraid, Aroon, that there Oi'll _have_ to bide!
The grass is springin' fresh an' green in Ould Oireland, but oh moy!
If there's any green in JONATHAN'S land, _it is not in his oi_!
The States are awful changed, MARY; it is not _now_ as _then_,
When they lifted a free latch-string to all exiled Oirishmen.
Now we miss the whoop ov welcome; they suggest it's loike our cheek,
And Oi'm listenin' for brave LOWELL'S words--which CHANDLER does _not_
speak!
It seems to me their Aigle for full Freedom no more pants,
And the Senator, he mutthers ov "degraded immigrants."
Says they can't "assimilate" us; faix, the wurrud sounds monstrous
foine,
But Oi fancy that it's maning is, "We mane to draw the loine!"
Shure, we're "ignorant and debased," dear; and the poor won't now find
friends
Even in free Columbia! So 'tis thus the ould boast ends!
"Stop 'em--for a year," says CHANDLER; "we'll be holding our Big Show,
An' poverty, an'--well, Cholera, are not wanted _thin_, you know."
It's an artful move, my MARY, but, it stroikes me, a bit thin,
And it won't come home consolin', to "the poor ov Adam's kin."
Faix! they won't stop 'cabin passengers,' big-wigs, an' British Peerage,
But--_they don't want the poor devils that crowd over in the steerage_!
So Oi'm sittin' on the stile, MARY, and there Oi'll loikely sthop,
For they don't require poor PADDY in their big new CHANDLER'S Shop.
Uncle SAM'S some punkins, MARY, but he's not a great green goose;
An' he's goin' to sthop a braggin' ov that latch-string always loose!
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