Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/275

238 The company refused to pay,
 * Because of this small hoard

Of crude petroleum, which, said they,
 * He in his house had "stored."

So Hand and Parsons came to court,
 * And wrangled pro and con;

The cause made much judicial sport
 * When it was sat upon.

Said one of the commissioners,
 * "Suppose he drank the same,

Or introduced it in his drawers,—
 * How would he be to blame?

It was but medicine he took,
 * Outside instead of in,

And 'storing,' this in any book
 * Hath ne'er decided been."

So Reynolds quoth, and Earl concurred,
 * And Johnson, Lott, and Dwight

Looked solemn as Minerva's bird;
 * But Reynolds winked outright.

The company, very low in mind,
 * Crestfallen sneaked away,

And little comfort could they find
 * In the dissent of Gray.

Good men rejoice whene'er they read
 * This rare decision, which

Is,—patriots for their land may bleed,
 * But are not bound to itch.