The Continental Monthly, Vol III, Issue VI, June, 1863, page 169 by Various Authors
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looking around, At one of the windows a ladder was found, And on it a burglar, who, plying his trade, A burglarious opening already had made.
Now the woodman, though making this nocturnal sortie All armed and equipped, at the rate of 'two-forty,' Called a halt, and proposed, before firing a gun, To question with care what had better be done. Forthwith he assembled a council of war, To gravely consider how fast and how far In a case of this kind it was lawful to go. Some said, 'Smash the ladder,' but others said, 'No, There were many objections to that, and the chief Was the constitutional rights of the thief; That the ladder was property all men agreed, And as such was protected, secured, guaranteed; And if 'twas destroyed, our greatest of laws Could not be upheld and maintained 'as it was.'' But others replied, 'That ladder's the chief Supporter, as all men may see, of the thief; Let's aim at the ladder, and if it should fall, Let the burglar fall with it, or hang by the wall As well as he can; and by the same token, Whose fault will it be if his neck should be broken?' To which it was answered, 'That ladder may be The chattel of some honest man, d'ye see.' 'Well, then, we will pay for't.' 'No, never!' says V., 'To be taxed for that ladder I'll never agree; You have brought on this fuss,' said V., mad and still madder; 'You always intended to break the man's ladder; You have been for a long time the people deceiving With false and pretended objections to thieving; You never desired to have robbing abolished; You only have sought to have ladders demolished.'
'Pray, hold!' said another, 'perhaps while we're trifling About this old ladder, the thief will be rifling The house of its contents, or, venturing further, May set it on fire--the children may murder.' 'Can't help it,' says V.; 'though he murder to-day, Who knows but to-morrow the murderer may Repent and reform; then who shall restore The ladder all perfect and sound as before? But whether or no, I can never consent That the thief and the ladde