JOHN LTTLEJOHN.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 482, 31 May 1851, Page 60

JOHN LTTLEJOHN.

John Little john wu staunch and strong, Upright and downright, scorning wrong ; He gave good weight, and paid his way, He thought for himself, and said his say. Whenever a rascal strove to pass, Instead of silver, money of brass, He took his hammer, and said, with a frown, ' " The coin is spurious, nail it down." John Littlejohn was firm and true, You could not cheat him in " two and two ;" When foolish uguers, might and main. Darkened and twisted the clear and plain, He saw through the mazes of their speech The simple truth beyond their reach, And crushing their logic, said, with a frown, " Your coin is spurious, nail it down." John Littlejohn maintained tie right, Through storm and shine in fhe world's despite. When fools or quacks desired his vote, Dosed him with arguments, learned by rote, Or by coaxing, threats, or promise, tried To gain his support to the wrongful aide; " Nay nay," said John, with angry frown, " Your coin is spurious, nailit down." When told that kings had a right divine, And that the people'were herds of swine, That nobles alone were fit to rule, That the poor were unimproved by school, That ceaseless toil was the proper fate Of all but the wealthy and the great, John shook his head, and swore, with a frown, '• The coin is spurious, nail it down." When told that events might justify A false aud crooked policy, That a decent hope of future good Might excuse departure from rectitude, That a lie if white was a small offence To be forgiven by men of sense. " Nay nay," said John, with a sigh and a frown, " The coin is spurious, nail it down." When told from the pulpit or the press That heaven was a place of exdusivtness, That none but those could enter there Who knelt with the " orthodox " at prayer, And held all virtues out of their pale As idle works of no avail, John's face grew dark, as he swore, with a frown, ' • The coin v spurious, nail it down." Whenever the world our eyes would blind With false pretences of such a kind, With humbug, cant, and bigotry, Or a specious, sham philosophy, With wrong dressed up in guise of right, And darkneis passing itself for light, Let us imitate John, and exclaim, with a forwn, " The coin is spurious, nail it down," Chailii Mackat.