LETTERS TO 'TIE EDITOR.

JOHN TO JONATHAN.

[TO TRH EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,--Lowell was a lover of justice as well as an inspired satirist. I cannot help thinking that if be were alive to-day his sense of justice would make him say : "I spoke plain truths to John when Jonathan was in a tight place and John was ready to exploit his difficulties and rofuse him the sym- pathy which their common blood demanded. Now John is in a tight place, and Jonathan seems inclined to fall into John's attitude of fifty years ago. Honesty, then, compels me to fit the cap that I made for John upon the head of Jonathan."

But, alas! Lowell can no longer speak to us. I therefore, greatly daring, have tried to see how the poem could be made

to run from this point of view. I have, of course, tried to make the alterations as slight as possible. Few or none are demanded by the sense, but a certain number by the rhymes:

JOHN TO JONATHAN.

It don't seem hardly right, Sara,

When both my hands are full, To hit me in the back, Sam—

To hit your cousin Bull I Ole Mr. John sez he, "Upon My word, Sam thinks," sez ho, "His eagle's claw is all the law,

So far as I can see, That's fit for you an' me!"

You wonder why we're hot, Sam is You've shipped to them in tons

The stuff with which they kill, Sam, Our brothers and our sons.

Ole Mr. John sez ho, " Upon My word, I think," sez he, " That over there they're not aware That what they send by sea Is hurtin' you an' me I"

If we gave food to dogs, Sam,

That tore you with their bites,

Would it just meet your views, Sam, To toll you of our rights?

Ole Mr. John sez he, "Upon

My word, I think," sez he, That if wo did—which God forbid!—

There'd be more sympathy

For him than you an' me I

We didn't act so bad, Sam, When war had brought you low, We let you warn our ships, Sam, From trading with your foe. Ole Mr. John sez he, "Upon My word, I think," sez he, "That Uncle S. did never guess Half of the minery That caused to you an' me 1" When your rights were our wrongs, Sam,

You didn't stop for fuss—

To put the slaving down, Sam, Was good enough law for us!

Ole Mr. John eft he, "Upon My word, I think," sez he, "It doesn't feller that Sam can swaller Prescriptions such as he

Made up for you and me!"

You've talked of neutral law, Sam, Some bit—but all it meant Was that you'd fixed your mind, Sam, On earning ten per cent. Ole Mr. John sez he, " Upon My word, I think," sea he, "When all is done, Its number one That rules Amerikee As well as you an' me !"

Shall it be love or hate, Sam P It's you that's to decide; Ain't your bonds held by fate, Sam, Like all the world's beside P Ole Mr. John sez lie, " Upon My word, I think," sez ho, " Forgive," forget,' are different yet—. A truth they'll learn to see, As well as you an' me!"

We know we've got a cause, Sam, That's honest, just, and true; We thought 'twould win applause, Sam; If nowhere else, from you. Ole Mr. John sez he, " Upon My word, I think," sez he, "Instead of helpin', Sam's started yelpin', As hard as he can gee, At the heels o' you an' me 1" God means to save this world, Sam, lour Liberty and Hight, And you must make your choice, Sam, Between what's dark and light.

Ole Mr. John sea he, "Upon My soul, there can't," sex he,

" Be neutral blights on human rights—

And that's the A B For them, an' you an' me!"