What, madam, run for School Director? You?
And want my vote and influence? Well, well,
That beats me! Gad! what are we coming to?
In all my life I never have heard tell
Of such sublime presumption, and I smell
A nigger in the fence! Excuse me, madam;
We statesmen sometimes speak like the old Adam.
But now you mention it—well, well, who knows?
We might, that’s certain, give the sex a show.
I have a cousin—teacher. I suppose
If I stand in and you’re elected—no?
You’ll make no bargains? That’s a pretty go!
But understand that school administration
Belongs to politics, not education.
We’ll pass the teacher deal; but it were wise
To understand each other at the start.
You know my business—books and school supplies;
You’d hardly, if elected, have the heart
Some small advantage to deny me—part
Of all my profits to be yours. What? “Stealing”?
Please don’t express yourself with so much feeling.
You pain me, truly. Now one question more.
Suppose a fair young man should ask a place
As teacher—would you (pardon) shut the door
Of the Department in his handsome face
Until—I know not how to put the case—
Would you extort a kiss to pay your favor?
Good Lord! you laugh? I thought the matter graver.
Well, well, we can’t do business, I suspect:
A woman has no head for politics.
My profitable offers you reject
And will not promise anything to fix
Things right that civic saints and angels mix.
Good morning. Stay—I’m chaffing you, conceitedly.
Madam, I mean to vote for you—repeatedly.