“De mortuis nil nisi bonum.”

“Speak no evil of the dead:” Standard story that of Cain; Sence his vitle spark has fled, Dast a soul of him complain? Did his brother mortle harm, Lied about the thing, to God; His’n the fust abandoned farm; Skipped to Canady or Nod. Like some latter-day ex-gent, Sorry—for his punishment. Judas did a traitor’s deed, ’Scuse, I beg, the mention here, Bein’ his life has gone to seed (Scattered far and wide, I fear), Of him may no ill be sayed, Though this miscreant for gain The one perfec’ Man betrayed To be crucified and slain: Went and killed hisself withal— After readin’ Ingersoll. Stay! That max’m mayn’t be true; In old heathen Rome ’twas bred; Livin’ men should have in view What’s the status of ’em dead. Conduc’ stands—time don’t forswear’t— Even to a lord’s disgrace, When with Cain and Judas Scairt He has went ter his own place. Cains and Judases, don’t guess Death will make you a success. L. S. Goodwin.