Chapter I

Oh! who, for any payment auriferous or argent,
Would undertake to do the work that Mr. Speaker does--
With nobody to help him except the trembling Sergeant,
While still begin and never end the shout and scream and buzz?
Oh, never any where, save in desert groves Brazilian,
Was ever heard such endless and aimless gabble yet.
For there the tribes of monkeys to the number of a million,
Screech and chatter without ceasing, from the sunrise to the set.
Rap! rap! rap!
To quell the rising clamor;
Order! order! order!
Hammer! hammer! hammer!