The New Freethinker

 John Grubby who was short and stout 
And troubled with religious doubt, 
Refused about the age of three 
To sit upon the curate's knee; 
(For so the eternal strife must rage 
Between the spirit of the age 
And Dogma, which, as is well known, 
Does simply hate to be outgrown).
 
Grubby, the young idea that shoots, 
Outgrew the ages like old boots; 
While still, to all appearance, small, 
Would have no Miracles at all; 
And just before the age of ten 
Firmly refused Free Will to men.
 
The altars reeled, the heavens shook, 
Just as he read of in the book; 
Flung from his house went forth the youth 
Alone with tempests and the Truth.
 
Up to the distant city and dim 
Where his papa had bought for him 
A partnership in Chepe and Deer 
Worth, say twelve hundred pounds a year.
 
But he was resolute.
 Lord Brute 
Had found him useful; and Lord Loot, 
With whom few other men would act, 
Valued his promptitude and tact; 
Never did even philanthrophy 
Enrich a man more rapidly: 
'Twas he that stopped the Strike in Coal, 
For hungry children racked his soul; 
To end their misery there and then 
He filled the mines with Chinamen 
Sat in that House that broke the Kings, 
And voted for all sorts of things -- 
And rose from Under-Sec.
 to Sec.
 
With scarce a murmur or a check.
 
Some grumbled.
 Growlers who gave less 
Than generous worship to success, 
The little printers in Dundee, 
Who got ten years for blasphemy, 
(Although he let them off with seven) 
Respect him rather less than heaven.
 
No matter.
 This can still be said: 
Never to supernatural dread 
Never to unseen deity, 
Did Sir John Grubby bend the knee; 
Nor was he bribed by fabled bliss 
To kneel to any world but this.
 
The curate lives in Camden Town, 
His lap still empty of renown, 
And still across the waste of years 
John Grubby, in the House of Peers, 
Faces that curate, proud and free, 
And never sits upon his knee.

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