|
|
Among all of the other Drake papers in my box, there were these clippings.
I
have no way of knowing, in most cases, where they come from or for
what reason
they were kept.
The first is a poem clipped from a newspaper and the subject
is Jefferson Davis
JEFF DAVIS
ON HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENT FOR SIX YEARS
Satan
was chain'd a thousand years,
We learn, from Revelation-
That he might not,
as it appears,
Longer "decieve the nation."
'Tis hard to say,
between the two,Which is the greater evil,
Six years of liberty, for you-
A
thousand for the Devil!
'Tis passing strange if you've no fears
Of being
hanged, within six years!
A hundred thousand rebels' ears,
Would not one-half
repay,
The widows' and the orphans' tears,
Shed for the slain, To-day:
The
blood of all those gallant braves,
Whom Southern traitors slew,
Cry sternly,
from their loyal graves,
For vengeance upon you;
And if you're not prepared
to die
The death of Haman, fly, Jeff-fly.
Fly traitor, to some lonely niche,
Far,
far beyond the billow;
Thy grave an ill-constructed ditch-
Thy sexton General
Pillow.
There may you return to rottenness,
By mortal unannoy'd,
Your ashes
undisturb'd, unless
Your grave is known to Floyd.
He'll surely trouble
your repose,
And come to steal your burial clothes.
EPITAPH
Pause
for an instant, loyal reader,
Here lies Jeff, the great seceder.
Above, he
always lied, you know,
And now the trai or lies below.
His bow was furnighed
with two strings,
He flattered crowds, and fawn'd on kings;
Repay'd his country's
care with evil;
And pray'd to God, and serv'd the devil.
The South could whip
the Yankee nation,
So he propos'd humiliation!
Their blessings were so everlasting,
'Twas
just the time, for prayer and fasting!
The record may be search'd in vain,
From
West Point Benedict to Cain,
To find a more atrocious knave,
Unless in Cesar
Borgia's grave.
The next three items are ballots on which appear the names of Theodore, Martin and Charles Drake. One ballot also has the name of Fred McQuivey, father of Jennie (Mary Jane) McQuivey Drake.
The next item appears to be a notice for the sale of a farm in New York.
VALUABLE FARM FOR SALE
Containing one hundred and two acres of land situated in the
town of Granby, Oswego County, about four miles from Lock
Number One, and about two miles northeast of Betts Corners in
Ondaga co.
Said Farm is in a good state of cultivation; about 60 acres
of land cleared, and the balance well timbered. There is also
a good Orchard of grafted fruit, and good and convenient buildings upon the
premises. The farm is well watered from
springs that never fail in the dryest seasons. The subscriber
offers the above valuable premises cheap. Any person wishing
to buy a bargain will do well to call and examine the land.
Inquire of the subscriber, on the premises.
TUNIS H. VANDERVEER
More items will be added to this section over time.
