Classic Poem

And who was there

The Devil cocked his chapeau, —
He looked a little pale, —
But he hid his hoofs in gaiters,
And tucked away his tail;
For he had been invited
To the Doodle's quiet drum,
In a little note, indited
By " Mrs. D. to hum. "
The Devil tapped his snuff-box
And grew a little grum,
But only said, " Delighted, "
And, also, " Bound to come! "

There was cooking in the kitchen,
There was feasting in the hall,
For the beautiful, bewitching
Mrs. Doodle gave a ball!
The wines were of the rarest
The Doodles ever stored,
The women just the fairest
The climate could afford;
The lights were redly glancing,
And the White House all abloom,
With the damsels dancing, dancing,
On the very crack of doom!
And the Devil tapped his snuff-box,
But it answered with a Boom!

Oh, their limbs were ruby-clotted,
And the " cutty sarks " they wore
Were sprinkled, spattered, spotted,
Splashed and stained with gore!
Such a clatter, clack, and clamor,
And the room so reeking full
That Death could hardly hammer
With his cross-bones on a skull!
And the Devil beamed his sweetest
On the damsels in the room,
And gently tapped his snuff-box,
But still it muttered Boom!