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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4
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Of all the types in a printer's hand
Commend me to the Amperzand,
For he's the gentleman (seems to me)
Of the typographical companie.
Oh my nice little Amperzand,
My graceful, swanlike Amperzand.
Nothing that Cadmus ever planned
Equals my elegant Amperzand!
Many a letter your writers hate,
Ugly Q. with his tail so straight,
X, that makes you cross as a bear,
And Z, that helps you with zounds to swear.
But not my nice little Arnperzand
My easily dashed-off Amperzand,
Any odd shape folks understand,
To mean my Protean Amperzand!
Nothing for him that's starch or stiff;
Never he's used in scold or tiff;
State epistles, so dull and grand,
Mustn't contain the shortened and.
No, my nice little Amperzand, [bland;
You are good for those who are jolly and
In days when letters were dried with sand
Old frumps wouldn't use my Amperzand!
But he is dear in old friendship's call,
Or when love is laughing through lady-scrawl,
Come & dine, & have bachelor's fare.
Come. & I'll keep you a round & square.
Yes, my nice little Amperzand
Never must into a word expand:
Gentle sign of affection stand,
My kind, familiar Amperzand.
—From an old volume of Punch.