ImpromptuLinesToCaptainRiddell

impromptulinestocaptainriddell

onreturninganewspaper.

yournewsandreview,sir.

i'vereadthroughandthrough,sir,

withlittleadmiringorblaming;

thepapersarebarren

ofhome-newsorforeign,

nomurdersorrapesworththenaming.

ourfriends,thereviewers,

thosechippersandhewers,

arejudgesofmortarandstone,sir;

butofmeetorunmeet,

inafabriccomplete,

i'llboldlypronouncetheyarenone,sir;

mygoose-quilltoorudeis

totellallyourgoodness

bestow'donyourservant,thepoet;

wouldtogodihadone

likeabeamofthesun,

andthenalltheworld,sir,shouldknowit!