| Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917. | | | | The City, 1850 (extract) | | By John G. Saxe |
| | | I LOVE the city, and the city’s smoke; | |
| The smell of gas; the dust of coal and coke; | |
| The sound of bells, the tramp of hurrying feet; | |
| The sight of pigs and Paphians in the street; | |
| The jostling crowd, the never-ceasing noise | 5 |
| Of rattling coaches, and vociferous boys; | |
| The cry of Fire and the exciting scene | |
| Of heroes running with their mad “mersheen”; | |
| Nay, now I think that I could even stand | |
| The direful din of Barnum’s brazen band, | 10 |
| So much I long to see the town again! | |
| Good-bye! I’m going by the evening train! | | | | |
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