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ODE TO FORTUNE.

air lady with the bandaged eye!
I’ll pardon all thy scurvy tricks,
So thou wilt cut me, and deny
Alike thy kisses and thy kicks:
I’m quite contented as I am,
Have cash to keep my duns at bay,
Can choose between beefsteaks and ham,
And drink Madeira every day.

My station is the middle rank,
My fortune—just a competence—
Ten thousand in the Franklin Bank,
And twenty in the six per cents.;
No amorous chains my heart enthrall,
I neither borrow, lend, nor sell;
Fearless I roam the City Hall,
And “bite my thumb” at Sheriff Bell.⁴⁸

The horse that twice a week I ride,
At Mother Dawson’s⁴⁹ eats his fill;
My books at Goodrich’s⁵⁰ abide,
My country-seat is Weehawk hill;