POETRY OF SMOKE. 57 



HOW IT ONCE WAS. 



RIGHT stout and strong the worthy burghers 

 stood, 



Or rather, sat, 



Drank beer in plenty, ate abundant food ; 

 For they to ancient customs still were true, 

 And smoked, and smoked, because they surely 

 knew 



What they were at, 



William the Testy ruled New Amsterdam 



A tall man he 



Whose rule was meant by him to be no sham, 

 But rather like the stern parental style 

 That sways the city now. He made the while 



A rough decree. 



He ordered that the pipes should cease to 

 smoke, 



From that day on. 

 The people took the order as a joke ; 

 They did not think, who smoked from child- 

 hood up, 



That one man such delight would seek to stop, 

 Even in fun. 



But when at last it dawned upon their minds 



That this was meant, 



They closed their houses, shut their window* 

 blinds. 



