Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/568

 The Wicked Shoemaker and Sacrilegious Farmer. On the enormity of his offence They aired their views in an opinion longer; Nor curtly in six lines "per curiam" Did they this noxious Sabbath-breaker damn. "To save the life of animals or men, Prepare fit food for man as well as beast, Save things from fire or flood or tempest when They otherwise would perish; — this at least On Sunday godly men may always do, And there are such occasions not a few. But if the fish in bay or birds on shore Uncommonly abundant then should be, Fishing or shooting would be none the more Devoid in law of immorality. As fish and birds are not uncommon prey, So waves will cast up seaweed every day. How it might be in case a goodly whale Should on the beach be driven high and dry, Tempting of bone and blubber to avail, 'T is not important now to signify. That case exceptional, which doth involve Such sum accessible, we need not solve." Thus spoke the venerable Hoar, who wrought His morals from the hoar antiquity When Puritans unanimously thought It reprehensible iniquity For one to kiss his wife on Sabbath day Or in the meeting-house on organ play. If Sampson could have got his arms about The pillars of that court-house where Hoar sat, He would have raised as great a rout As when great Samson laid the temple flat. But he was sent on mush and milk to feed, And in striped clothes repent of gathering weed. So listen, all ye Massachusetts men, Unto the lesson which we here would teach With trembling awe and reverential pen : On Sunday weed not garden nor the beach, Nor let the Enemy your thoughts assail With profit less than prophet-bearing whale.

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