J. F. Well, Bill, it won’t
much matter. He can’t hurt us; so we will
hope the best for him.
M. P. Should we hurt his feelings
by being a little merry in his presence now?
J. F. Well, I think we may risk
it. Let those of you who are not too lazy to
dance, as I am, do so to the tune that sprang up at
the dawn of freedom in the days of our great-grandfathers.
[They dance round CITIZEN NUPKINS, singing
the following words to the tune of the “Carmagnole”:
What’s this that the days
and the days have done?
Man’s lordship over man hath gone.
How fares it, then, with high
and low?
Equal on earth, they thrive and grow.
Bright is the sun for
everyone;
Dance we, dance we the Carmagnole.
How deal ye, then, with pleasure
and pain?
Alike we share and bear the twain.
And what’s the craft whereby
ye live?
Earth and man’s work to all men give.
How crown ye excellence of worth?
With leave to serve all men on earth.
What gain that lordship’s
past and done?
World’s wealth for all
and every one.
[FREEMAN and NUPKINS come to the front.
* * * * *
J. F. Well, Nupkins, you see you
have got the better of us damned Socialists after
all. For in times past you used to bully us and
send us to prison and hang us, and we had to put up
with it; and now you and yours are no longer masters,
there are no masters, and there is nobody to
bully you. How do you like it, old fellow? (clapping
him on the shoulder.)
C. N. (bursting into tears).
A world without lawyers!—oh, dear! oh,
dear! To think that I should have to dig potatoes
and see everybody happy!
J. F. Well, Nupkins, you must bear
it. And for my part, I can’t be very sorry
that you feel it so keenly. When scoundrels lament
that they can no longer be scoundrels for lack of
opportunity, it is certain that THE TABLES ARE TURNED.
THE END.
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THE EARTHLY PARADISE: A Poem in four parts.
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