Page 1 

Toasts at Ellen Walter’s 
Christmas Dinner.

Mrs. Smith.
Oh! where is the woman so pure and so true
So upright, and holy, as Nancy Fitzhugh
She has been a good ballast, all her life
To that “high flutin” Gerrit, he needs such a wife

Dr. Bayard
Here’s to him who with prophetic eye
Looks beyond the mysterious sky.
In communing with spirits, he never is tired
So lofty and true, is our own Good Bayard.

Mrs. Kerneys.
Petrucio had a charming Cate, 
Who starved into an humble state,
Obeyed her Lord and Master.
Our Cate though feasted, and living in ease,
Is gentle, and kind, and sure to please,
And thus her Lord doth Master.

Mrs. Barclay.
Cornelia grand and dignified,
Brightest in affliction tried,
With her jewels, pure and rare
No Roman matron can compare.
______________________
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Mr. Stanton.
The stump orator, who helped to give the nation,
A rail splitter, with his grand proclamation;
Is worthy of our thanks and toasts,
Although he don’t believe in ghosts,
It’s not given to the Stantons
To spend their time in chasing Phantoms.

Mrs. Walter.
No longer tied to David’s Psalter,
Born again is Ellen Walter,
Into the world, of truth and thought,
And doctrines, such as Jesus taught.

Mr. Smith.
Oh! Touch my tongue with celestial fire;
To praise him of fame, who can aspire!
Enough to say, perchance, he is no myth;
World known, immortal! Gerrit Smith!!

Mr. Kemeys.
The Gods all assembled in council one day,
To pour out their gifts in the same piece of clay.
And forth there sprang as by magic power
A man equipped for this sad hour
With a noble great frame and a big heart to match
Courageous and bold, without flaw or scratch
Then what to name him, some discussion arose,
But soon all agreed to call him “Big nose.”
______________________
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Mrs. Stanton
Here’s dear Lizzie Stanton, plump and sound
Would she were with manhood crowned
So lofty are her thoughts and wishes,
So much she hates the dames and dishes
	Cousin Gerrit.

Trudy Walter.
With graceful gestures, soft dark eye;
Who is that fair one silent by?
Who hears not, speaks not, the earth born tongue,
Whence came, where goes, that blessed one?
Who mingles with us, feels each thought,
As if by inspiration caught,
She seems a link ‘tween us and Heaven
A mystic life, our hearts to leaven.
	Cousin Lib

Trudy Walter.
Dear Trudy the girl of our choice
She hears; but it’s only God’s voice.
She speaks; but with only the finger
Around this dear girls our hearts love to linger
	Uncle Gerrit.
______________________
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Horace Greeley. 	Smith.
Here’s Horace Greeley
Who still is really
An unsophisticated man
On what other politician
Of his high position
So great a praise bestow you can.

Horace Greeley. 	Stanton
Where’s the man not proud to commune
With the Hercules of our Tribune?
Who has done more to rouse this nation
And reinstate the Declaration
“That God made all men free,
Endowing life with liberty”?
Than Horace Greeley good and great
Felt alike, in church and state.
______________________
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[typed transcript]

Original in
Alma Lutz Collection

Toasts at Ellen Walter’s Christmas Dinner
(Written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

Mrs. Smith

O, where is the woman so pure & so true
So upright, & holy, as Nancy Fitzhugh
She has been a good balast, all her life
To that “high flutin’” Gerrit, he needs such a wife.

Dr. Bayard

Here’s to him who with prophetic eye
Looks beyond the mysterious sky,
In communing with spirits, he never is tired
So lofty and true, is our own Good Bayard.

Mrs. Keneys

Petrucio had a charming Cate
Who starved into an humble state,
Obeyed her Lord and Master
Our Cate though feasted, & living in ease,
Is gentle, & kind, & sure to please,
And thus her Lord doth master.

Mrs. Barclay

Cornelia grand & dignified,
Brightest in affliction tried
With her jewels, pure & rare
No Roman matron can compare.

Mr. Stanton

The stump orator, who helped give the nation,
A rail spliter, with his grand proclamation;
Is worthy of our thanks & toasts,
Although he don’t believe in ghosts,
It is not given to the Stantons
To spend their time in chasing Phantoms.

Mrs. Walter

No longer tied to David’s salter,
Born again is Ellen Walter
Into the world of truth and thought
And doctrines, such as Jesus taught.

Mr. Smith

Oh! Touch my tongue with celestial fire
To praise him of fame, who can aspire
Enough to say, perchance, he is no myth
World known immortal, Gerrit Smith!!
______________________
Page 6

Mr. Kemeys

The Gods all assembled in council one day,
To pour out their gifts in the same piece of clay
And forth there sprang as by magic power
A man equipped for this sad hour.
With a noble great frame & a big heart to match
Courageous & bold without flaw or scratch
Then what to name him, some discussion arose
But soon all agreed to call him “Big Nose”.

Mrs. Stanton

Here is dear Lizzie Stanton, plump and sound
Would she were with manhood crowned
So lofty are her thoughts & wishes,
So much she         dames & dishes
	Cousin Gerrit

Trudy Walter

With graceful gestures, soft dark eyes;
Who is that fair one silent by?
Who hears not, speaks not, the earth born tongue,
Whence came, where goes, that blessed one?
Who mingles with us, feels each thought,
As if by inspiration caught,
She seems a link ‘tween us & Heaven
A mystic life, our hearts to leaven.
	Cousin Lib

Trudy Walter

Dear Trudy a girl of our choice
She hears; but it’s only God’s voice,
She speaks; but with only the finger
Around this dear girls our hearts love to linger.
	Uncle Gerrit.

Horace Greeley 	Smith

Here’s Horace Greeley
Who still is really
An unsophisticated man
On what other politician
Of his high position
So great a praise bestow you can.

Horace Greeley 	Stanton

Where is the man not proud to commune
With the Hercules of our Tribune?
Who has done more to rouse this nation
And reinstate the Declaration.
“That God made all men free,
Endowing life with liberty”?
Than Horace Greeley good & great
Felt alike, in church & state.