The Continental Monthly, Vol I, Issue I, January 1862, page 189 by Various Authors
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s be thankful! not forgetting the smaller crumbs of comfort--as, for instance, the capture of SLIDELL, MASON and Co., which a friend has kindly recorded for your benefit, most excellent reader, in the following chapter:--
CHAPTER I.
Now it came to pass in the first year of the great Rebellion
In the land of Secessia, whose men were men of Belial, hard of heart, and inflamed with exceeding great wrath against the children of the North, and against all people who walked in the way of truth and justice:
Meditating evil from the first mint-julep before breakfast, even unto the last nip of corn whisky before retiring;--
In the isles of the South, and on the firm land, where COTTON was king, and JEFFERSON, whose surname was DAVIS, was his prophet; where BENJAMIN, the finder of stray watches and spoons, and FLOYD, the spoiler, were priests--Oh, my soul, enter thou not into their counsels!--
Lo! it came to pass that there arose a great cry from among the people;
A great and vehement cry, a wailing and roaring as of many of the chivalry when they burn with strong drink at quarter races, or smite with bowie-knives in a free fight around the court-house:
The cry of many women and children, to say nothing of editors, politicians, dirt-eaters, and negro auctioneers:
Saying, 'Lo! these many days have we been closed up by the Yankees, even like unto a pint of Bourbon in an exceedingly tight-corked bottle, so that nothing may go out or in, and who shall say what may be the end thereof?
'Since the blockade presseth sorely upon our ports, the merchandise of many lands cometh not therein, and we are entirely out of groceries.
'Having neither balm nor myrrh, spices nor tea, coffee nor brandy.
'Quinine is not among us, neither have we cheese, shoes, sugar, jack-knives, cigars, patent medicines, glue, tenpenny nails, French gloves, pens or ink, dye-stuffs, nor r