Now it had come to pass years before, and was on record,
That MASON, having been asked to visit Boston,
Replied, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you that I will not set foot therein again save as an ambassador to that land.'
Now these things were remembered against him, and printed in all the papers, even in the Boston papers printed they them.
And they bare him into prison, with SLIDELL, and poor EUSTIS was he borne of them.
And they seemed extremely wamble-cropt and chop-fallen; their feathers shone not, even their sickle-feathers drooped in the dust, and their combs were white.
And they seemed as unclean men caught in their unrighteousness, who had been sold uncommonly cheap, with nary buyer.
And they took from them the gold which they had stolen afore-time from UNCLE SAM, even the bills upon the Hebrews did they yield up. Howbeit, they received a receipt for them.
And they asked much, 'How shall we feed, and may we have servants?' and wished to live pleasantly; yet, when at Richmond, SLIDELL had reviled the Yankee prisoners sorely, and counseled harsh treatment.
Then went they into the jug, and were allotted each man his bunk in the prison-house.
And the word went forth to hang all pirates and robbers on the sea, even as it had been spoken sternly by OLD ABE, of Washington;
And if they of Secessia hang the brave CORCORAN and his friends,
Then, as the LORD liveth, SLIDELL and MASON shall pull hemp; even on the gallows shall they hang like thieves and murderers--the land hath sworn it. SELAH!
Who is there among our readers who has not heard that phrase? It has now for some years been transferred from one political topic to another, until its flavor of novelty is well-nigh gone. But _whence_ the expression? An antiquarian would probably hint at the geese whose sound saved Rome. The great goose question of the Reformation was the burning of one Huss, whose name in English signifyeth Goose, for which reason he is said to have exclaimed to his tormentors 'Now ye indeed roast a goose, but, lo! after me there will come a swan whom ye can not roast;' which was strangely fulfilled in LUTHER, whose name--slightly varied--signifies in Bohemian a swan. But, reader, 'an it please you,' here is the original and 'Simon Pure' explanation, as furnished by a correspondent:--