If I should die, 1
And you should live－
And time should gurgle on－
And morn should beam－
And noon should burn－5
As it has usual done－
If Birds should build as early
And Bees as bustling go－
One might depart at option 9
From enterprise below!
'Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand
When we with Daisies lie－
That Commerce will continue－13
And Trades as briskly fly－
It makes the parting tranquil
And keeps the soul serene－
That gentlemen so sprightly 17
Conduct the pleasing scene!
And you should live－
And time should gurgle on－
And morn should beam－
And noon should burn－5
As it has usual done－
If Birds should build as early
And Bees as bustling go－
One might depart at option 9
From enterprise below!
'Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand
When we with Daisies lie－
That Commerce will continue－13
And Trades as briskly fly－
It makes the parting tranquil
And keeps the soul serene－
That gentlemen so sprightly 17
Conduct the pleasing scene!
(F.36/J.54)
[1] die:: to fail (lose money in the stock exchange).
[3-5] gurgle, beam, burn:: description of the exchange market.
[4, 5] morn, noon:: general opening time of the exchange.
[7] Birds:: an exceptionally smart or accomplished person, frequently ironical (OED 4b).
[7] build as early:: to enter early in the stock exchange.
[8] Bees:: hard-working people.
[8] bustling go:: to buy and sell often.
[9] depart at option:: a choice to quit the market.
[10] enterprise:: bold, arduous undertaking. below:: low in moral or ethic.
[11] stocks:: the stock exchange.
[12] Daisies:: first-rate things or persons (OED n. 5). lie:: to cheat; Dickinson believed the stock exchange cheats.
[13] Commerce:: stock exchange as part of the commerce.
[14] Trades:: a hint on stock exchange.
[15] parting:: sharing, the profit of a company.
[16] soul:: the central inner part of a company.
[18] pleasing scene:: happy scene of the stock exchange.
The hours of business at the Stock Exchange are from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M., except on Saturdays, when the market closes an hour earlier; ─ Practical Hints for Investing Money (1856)
Public Prejudices against Stock-Jobbing. It may have fallen to the reader's lot to have listened to the most extraordinary stories about Stock-jobbing, stories connecting every kind of Stock transaction with swindling and roguery; ─ Practical Hints for Investing Money (1856)
into a large public room which is the Stock Exchange of New York, where all bargains are made. ─ An Excursion to the United States of North America, in the Summer of 1794 (1798)