My gold in his purse dropped sweet, And I laughed at the calm of his snug retreat, 4. The peer, from his old gray towers- And I greeted his ear, his window beneath, 5. The Scot on his wild hill stood, And the startled heathcock flew, As the caverned breast of the lone hills rung 6. Poor Pat from his bog looked round, But I taught him to train the deceitful ground, When I made him my servant true, To make way for the whistle, whew! 7. When I came to the crowded town, But from high on their roofs I looked down, Then hiding, with cunning art, I tunneled in darkness through, And came rushing up in the city's heart, 8. The old royal mail dashed on, With its coachman and guard in state, And its foaming steeds, and its bugle-blower In its glory and pride elate; To a creeping "bus" it shrunk, As my steam-cloud rose in view, And its haughty guard, to a cabman sunk, 9. "Tis good that I pass along: From the smoke of the city I bear To fields and the fresh sweet air. 10. I fly like the tempest's wing, Yet the timid have nought to fear A great but gentle thing, An infant might check my career. 11. Away, away, away! Who will not follow me? who? Peasant and prince the shrill summons obey SHERIDAN AND THE HEIR. 1. A NUMEROUS party was assembled at the mansion of a northern squire. Among them were Sheridan and a young, wealthy heir, belonging to a neighboring county. This youth prided himself on the accident of his birth, and on his consequent acquisition of riches. 2. During the early part of the day, the stripling sneered at poverty, and spoke slightingly of authors, actors, and other classes of the community who afford occupation and amusement to thousands who would otherwise be devoured by ennui, or seek excitement in vicious pleasures. Sheridan was justly displeased at the want of tact, taste, and feeling in the rich young man, and waited for an opportunity of making him feel the edge of his keen rebuke. 3. At dinner were twenty guests. Sheridan sat on the left hand, at the bottom of the table; the youth on the right at the top; so that they were at opposite angles; and the whole party were so placed as to witness and hear what passed from either of them. The youth talked much of all that concerned him. He gave accounts of the wonderful leaping of his favorite hunter, of the distance his new double-barreled gun killed a wild duck, of the extraordinary stanchness of a crossbred setter, of his dexterity in catching salmon with a single hair, of his prowess in London, &c., &c., to the number of eighteen different circumstances. 4. After the removal of the second course, silence ensued. Sheridan availed himself of the moment, and thus addressed the youth, his voice insuring a continuation of the prevailing silence: "Sir, from the distance at which I sit from you, I did not hear with accuracy the whole of your interesting anecdotes. Permit me to ask you whose hunter performed those extraordinary leaps." The youth replied: "Mine, sir." Sheridan continued: "But whose gun killed so far!" Again the youth answered: "Mine, sir." "Whose setter was so stanch ?" "Mine, sir," repeated the victim. "Who caught the salmon, sir ?" "I did," was faintly answered. 5. Sheridan was inexorable, and continued, with the utmost politeness of manner, until he had exhausted the whole eighteen items, and then dryly said: "So, you were the chief actor in every anecdote, and the author of them all. Is it not impolitic to depise your own professions?" The youth left the mansion the following day, and was cured of his illiberality and egotism. POETRY AND POVERTY. 1. 'Twas sung of old, how one Amphion 2. Poor are the brethren of the Bays, And may be, till they portions get; Yet, still the doating rhymer dreams, And sings of Helicon's bright streams; 3. Yet, ev'n a-thirst, he sweetly sings 4. In shady groves the muses play, To be rewarded with a bauble! Thus soldiers, who in deadly battle THE FLY.-OLDYS. OCCASIONED BY A FLY DRINKING OUT OF THE AUTHOR'S CUP. 1. Busy, curious, thirsty fly! Drink with me, and drink as I! Freely welcome to my cup, Couldst thou sip and sip it up: Make the most of life you may; 2. Both alike are mine and thine, |