Jeffersonian Republican

The Latest Fashion

This world of ours is a wonderous strange one,
Its fashions are enough to derange one,
And make us think we'd infinitely rather,
Go back to the fig leaf of Adam our father,
Singing hi ho. How much we grieve
For the good old days of Adam and Eve.

Now the time is coming fast they tell me,
When folks will all be getting shelly,
And casting aside broadcloth and leather,
With Terrapin shells will keep out the weather
With a hi sing ho. Oh who would grieve
For the fig leaf days of Adam and Eve.

The Mantua-makers will be in a passion,
And Tailors too, at this "Outre" fashion,
For whose hath the streakedest shell,
Without their aid, will bear off the bell
With a hi sing ho, &c.

'Mong the Elite t'will create a commotion
Such a practicing there'll be of the Terrapin motion
Instead of importing Persian notions,
They'll send for Shells to the Indian Ocean.
With a hi sing ho, oh who, &c.

This plan our rulers did conceive
The people's burthens to relieve,
No more then deem the leaders selfish
Who for their country, would turn to shellfish.
With a hi sing ho, oh who, &c.

Such patriots we are bound to cherish,
Their glorious deeds must never perish,
Since we cannot hope in a course of nature,
For another Terrapin Legislature,
Its like ne'er was, I do believe
Since the good old days of Adam and Eve.

P. S.

There's one among this scaly gatherin
Not recognised by some of the brethren,
A tricky, rabid, mongrel loafer,
A cross twixt mud turtle and Gopher.
His shell's so tough you cannot burst him,
Else his own faction would not trust him.
He whom his party thus decry,
Holds ne'ertheless a station high,
He Standard bearer is to the crew,
And is full as fat as any other two,
So fat that he need never grieve
For the grass-fed days of Adam and Eve.

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY.