File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 11, page 203, December 1859.jpg

Transcription:

‘Twas ere we had [Edward] Welles*, with song, dance or poem;

‘Twas ere we had [James] Morris, with music† or proem;

Long ago ere we’d a poet, an actor, a wag or a

[Edward] Serrell who’d bridge for us a rolling Niagara.‡

Ere [Carl] Knudsen§ the thoughtful, good-humored and quaint,

Showed his taste for discussion, his genius for paint.

‘Twas ere that young artist of high and rare promise

Whose surname is [Thomas] Nast and prenomen Thomas,

Had come with his pencil to fill up the spaces

On the walls of this room with three charming faces.Þ

—————

* Welles (the second time I’ve spelt his name right) dances very funnily, got up in ballet costume; sings only in an extraordinary falsetto, accompanying himself on the piano.

† Plays on the piano in a manner rather delightful to himself than others. Effect mournful, productive of despondency.

‡ Serrell engineered a bridge over the Niagara river.

§ Bearded, amiable, self-complacent.

Þ The three girls [Sally, Matty, and Eliza Edwards], as afore chronicled. Nast succeeded best on Sally, worst on Eliza.