THE NEW ENGLAND SABBATH-DAY CHACE. 19

"Not I, my good Darby (I answer'd the lad) Leave the church on the left! they would think we were mad;

I would sooner rely on the heels of my steed,
And pass by them all, like a Jehu indeed :-
As long as I'm able to lead in the race

Old Ranger, the gelding, will go a good pace,
As the deacon pursues, he will fly like a swallow,
And you in the cart, must, undoubtedly, follow."

Then approaching the church, as we pass'd by the door

The sexton peep'd out, with a saint or two more,
A deacon came forward and waved us his hat,
A signal to drop him some money-mind that!-
"Now, Darby (I halloo'd be ready to skip,
Ease off the curb bridle-give Ranger the whip:
While you have the rear, and myself lead the way,
No doctor or deacon can catch us this day."

By this time the deacon had mounted his poney And chaced for the sake of our souls and-our mo

ney:

The saint, as he followed, cried-" Stop them, halloo!"

As swift as he followed, as swiftly we flew

"Ah master! (said Darby) I very much fear We must drop him some money to check his career, He is gaining upon us and waves with his hat, There's nothing, dear master, will stop him but that. Remember the Beaver (you well know the fable) Who flying the hunters as long as he 's able, When he finds that his efforts can nothing avail, But death and the puppies are close at his tail, Instead of desponding at such a dead lift, He bites off their object, and makes a free giftSince fortune all hope of escaping denies

Better give them a little than lose the whole prize."

20

THE BOYS AND THE FROGS.

But scarce had he spoke, when we came to a place
Whose muddy condition concluded the chace,
Down settled the cart--and old Ranger stuck fast
"Aha! (said the saint) have I catch'd ye at last ?"

* * *

*

Cætera desunt.

*

THE BOYS AND THE FROGS.

(PINDAR.)

A THOUSAND Frogs, upon a summer's day,

Were sporting 'midst the sunny ray,
In a large pool, reflecting ev'ry face;-

They show'd their gold-lac'd clothes, with pride;
In harmless sallies, frequent vy'd,

And gambol'd through the water, with a grace.

It happen'd that a band of boys,
Observant of their harmless joys,

Thoughtless resolv'd to spoil their happy sport;
One frenzy seiz'd both GREAT and SMALL:
On the poor frogs the rogues began to fall,
Meaning to splash them, not to do them hurt.

As Milton quaintly sings, the stones 'gan pour,'
Indeed an Otaheite show'r!

The consequence was dreadful, let me tell ye;
ONE's eye was beat out of his head;-

This limp'd away, that lay for dead,—
Here mourn'd a broken back, and there a belly.

Among the smitten, it was found,
Their beauteous queen receiv'd a wound
The blow gave ev'ry heart a sigh,

And drew a tear from ev'ry eye;

At length King CROAK got up, and thus begun"My lads, you think this very pretty FUN!

THE BAT AND THE WEASELS.

"Your pebbles round us fly as thick as hops,"Have warmly complimented all our chops ;"To you, I guess, that these are pleasant stones! "And so they might be to us Frogs,

21

"You damn'd, young, good-for-nothing dogs, "But that they are so hard--they break our bones."

OF weasels some eat birds. Again

Others eat mice. So says Fontaine.
If I am wrong tho' in this same,
Mark me, the Frenchman is to blame,

A smart young bat for wenching sake,
Was out one night upon the rake:
(Nay--frown not: bats, as well as men,
Must-that they must-sin now and then :)
And while a weasel was at rest
Popt by mistake into his nest.

"Who's there?" cries small guts: "wife!
"wife! my dear!
"Some rogue, some thief 's got in, I fear.

"Who's there? I say-O, sir! is't you?

"This visit you'll be apt to rue.

"Ar' n't you a mouse? speak: are you not? "Speak, sirrah, or you go to pot.

"You know, you dog, I hate you all;I hate you, great and small."

" I

say,

Some trifle fluster'd, quoth th' intriguer, "Why, my dear sir, you 're vastly eager, "Sure any bird would think you mad! "A mouse, too! very high, egad!

"Pray have mice wings? look: wings like these, sir? "Answer me only, if you please, sir: