Vignettes

“AND Smith has made money?' 'O, no; that's a myth: Smith never made money But money made Smith!' _______________ A sculptor is Deming—a great man, too; But the chisel of fancy the hand outstrips; While he talks of the wonder he's going to do All the work of his fingers leaks out at his lips! ______________ 'A scholar, sir! To Brown six tongues are known!' (The Blockhead! never spoke one thought his own!) _______________ Johnson jingled his silver—though he never had much to purloin; But Jackson jingled his intellect—O, give us Johnson's coin! ______________ At school a blockhead—sullen, wordless, dull; His size well known to even his smallest mate; Grown up, men say: ' How silent! He is full Of will and wisdom! ' Truly mud is great! An honest man! Jones never broke the law. The wretch behind the bars he scorned with pride. But these same bars on every side he saw: Jones lived in prison—on the other side. _______________ A hideous fungus in the wine-vault grows, Liver-like, loathsome, shaking on its stalk: Above the wine-vault, too (to him who knows), The cursed mushroom lives and walks and talks.