The Pied Piper Of Michigan

'Time was in Michigan 'When corporations haughty, Boliticians rich and naughty, Railroacis, urban and suburban, Steam, electric, all did burden; .■■And with franchise speculative, ■ Shares well watered and lucrativo. Skin the eommon people. And the peopla they protested, And protested all in vain; I For the politicians one and all Said these charters were invested With rights not to be molested And on them aurely rested Republlcan ringsters, great and smal!; .Vnd, said they, 'tis no use talking, Accept our terms or .take to walking. And then there eame Q ringing, A queer and curlous Ping-ing Upon the people's wigwam Where 'uvas always still beforë, And in (lid come the stranierest ligare; His queer long cloak from head to heaj Was half of yellow and half of white; With sharp blue eyes, each like a pin. And tli in loose hair, yet oily skin; No tuft on cheek yet beard on chin. An"l Tips where smiles went out and in; The people's ptper evertnore. I'lc.-ise. my t'riends," said he, "I'm able By means of a secret charm to draw All ereatüres living beneath the aun, That ereep or swim or fly or run, AI'tPT me as you never saw, And Ichiefly use my charm On oreatnres that do people harm Ijike the measly eorporatlons." Xhr-n up spake the party leaders. Jim and Jullus, Sky and Thompson: "This is rank and noisome treason, And if with us you woutö eónsort, And in amity abide, You must oleanse with due baptism This nasty Demo-Populism Else with O'Donnell and that &ort We'll gather in your pesky hielo." Into the street the piper st ;pt, SmiliiiR flrst 11. littie smile, As if he Unsnv what magie slepl In his (uiet pipe the while; Then üke a musical adept To blow the pipe his Ups he wrinklcd -■ And gray iinii blue his sharp eyes twinkled, r.iko a candlc fíame where ;lt is sprinkled. And ere three shrill ñutes the plper uttered Yuu heard as if an army muttered; And the muttering grew to grumbllng, And the grumbling grew to rumbliag, And out of the houses the votes carne tumbluiK. Families by tena and dozens. Brothws, eistere, fnthers, wives, Followed the piper for their lives. Prora t'iwn t' town hc piped advancing, And step by sten they followed dancing To Ping's triumphant march entrsnclng. Demos, Reps and Populiets - ali: While Hun?. Jim and Jim and Julius and Sky. Sawyer and Thoiiipson, the great and the sm:ill. Wltnessed the big processiun go by.