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Literary
May 13, 1808
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
A humorous poem recounting how a drunken Southern planter, upon peeping through a keyhole and seeing his enslaved Africans joyfully mimicking his intoxicated behavior, recognizes his folly and reforms into a sober man.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
DRUNKENNESS CURED.
A planter in a Southern State,
(No matter on what day or date)
Repeating oft the cheering drop,
Had almost burnt his heartstrings up.
One night he through his parlour door,
Could hear his kitchen in a roar;
And having gratified his ear,
Resolv'd to see as well as hear;
So through the key hole sought to know
What pleased his laughing negroes so.
Cur, he beheld, with mighty glee,
In attitude of mimicry;
Exposing every look and motion,
Occasion'd by the pois'nous potion;
Indeed twas clear the tawny elf
Acted as Massa did himself.
At which the grinning company
Cried, "Massa's self de berry he"
The planter saw its proper force,
And grew a sober man of course.
A planter in a Southern State,
(No matter on what day or date)
Repeating oft the cheering drop,
Had almost burnt his heartstrings up.
One night he through his parlour door,
Could hear his kitchen in a roar;
And having gratified his ear,
Resolv'd to see as well as hear;
So through the key hole sought to know
What pleased his laughing negroes so.
Cur, he beheld, with mighty glee,
In attitude of mimicry;
Exposing every look and motion,
Occasion'd by the pois'nous potion;
Indeed twas clear the tawny elf
Acted as Massa did himself.
At which the grinning company
Cried, "Massa's self de berry he"
The planter saw its proper force,
And grew a sober man of course.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Satire
Fable
What themes does it cover?
Temperance
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Drunkenness
Temperance
Mimicry
Planter
Slavery
Reform
Southern State
Literary Details
Title
Drunkenness Cured.
Key Lines
Cur, He Beheld, With Mighty Glee, In Attitude Of Mimicry;
Indeed Twas Clear The Tawny Elf Acted As Massa Did Himself.
At Which The Grinning Company Cried, "Massa's Self De Berry He"
The Planter Saw Its Proper Force, And Grew A Sober Man Of Course.