But still a maggot, in his head, Told Sam he was a ninny, To spend his life in twirling thread, And if he would become renown'd, And live in song or story, 'Twas time he should be looking round For deeds of fame and glory. 'What shall I do?' quoth honest Sam, 'There is no war a-brewing; 'And duels are but dirty things, 'Scarce worth a body's doing. 'And if I would be President, 'I see I'm up a tree, "For neither prints, nor Congress-men, 'Have nominated me.' But still that maggot in his head Told Sam he was a gump, For if he could do nothing else, Most surely he could jump. Aye, right, quoth Sam, and out he went, And down he jump'd full twenty feet, And when he safely swam to land, New light now shone in Samuel's eyes, His heart went pit a pat; 'Go, bring a ladder here,' he cries; 'I'll jump you more than that.' The longest ladder in the town Against the factory was rear'd, And Sam clomb up, and then jump'd down, And loud and long the gapers cheer'd. Besides the maggot in his head, And off he went on foot, full trot, He stopt awhile, for Sam was tired; And there he mounted for a jump, And cry, ‘How dare you do it ?' But Sam ne'er heeded what they said, 'Hoo-rah,' the mob cried out amain, 'Hoo-rah,' from every throat was pouring, And Echo cried, 'Hoo-rah' again, Like a thousand lions roaring, Sam's fame now spread both far and wide, From shipmasts he would jump in sport, And proclamation soon was made, That he would leap Niagara falls. 'What for?' inquired an honest Hodge, 'Why scare to death our wives and mothers?" 'To show that some things can be done,' Quoth Sam, as well as others.' Ten thousand people thronged the shores, While Sam approached those awful falls, And when they saw his neck was safe, Patch being but a scurvy name, And here our hero should have stopt, And most all heroes do the same. Napoleon's last great battle prov'd And Sam's last jump was a fearful one, "Twas at the falls of Genessee, He jump'd down six score feet and five, The crowd, with fingers in their mouths, |