"'You may seek it with thimbles—and seek it with care; You may hunt it with forks and hope; You may threaten its life with a railway-share; You may charm it with smiles and soap—'"
The railway-share line brings to mind the Railway Mania of the time. I don't know about thimbles, but it implies sewing. I'm assuming it indicates careful detailed work. Forks and hope implies hunger. Charming with smiles and soap seems like salesmanship, cleaning it up to look better than it is.
