The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-05-08
POETRY.
(SELECTED.l
DARBY AND JOAN.

WHEN Darby saw the setting sun,
lie swupg bis scythe, and home he rtns
Sat down, drank OFT his pint and said.
NY work is done, III go to bed
'My work is done . retorted joan
'Ny work Is done = your constant toner
hut Eapless woman ne'er can say
MY work is DONE ill her last day
Here Darby bemm'd and scrstch'd his head,
To answer what his Joan had said
BIT ell ia vain her clack kept on
sYes womsn's work is never done
You men can sleep all night, but WE
Nust toll Whose fault is that quoth he,
Il know your meaning Joan replied,
'I3at, sir, my tongue shall not be tied
] will 90 on and let you know
What woth poor women have TO do.
Tirs, in the morning, though VIC feel
As sick as druDkards, when they reel,
Yes, feel such pains in back and head
As would eoUfne you neo TO bed;
We ply the brush and WELD the broom
We air the beds and right the room.
The cows must then be milk'd. and then
We get the breakfast for the men;
Ere this Is o'er with whimp'ring cries,
And bristy hair, the children rises
They must be dress'd and dos'd with rue,
And ted, snd all because Of you,
We must'--here darby scratch d his head
Ard fast reueated to his bed;
Eut gTumbled this ~ on he run,
'zounds woman's ciack is never dohe;'
At early dawn ere Phobus rose,
Oid Joan resum'd her tale Of woes;
When Darby said, IN end the strife,
~ you the man, and the wife,
7ske you the scythe, and NOV, while
Will all your Boosting cares supply
Content quo,h Joan, give me my hintj
This Darby did, and out she went.
Old Darby rose, and siez'd the broom,
And whrpd the dirt around the room;
Which having done, he scarce knew how,
lie tried to milk the brinded COW.
The brindled COW Wbiskd round her tail
In parby's eyes, aud kick'd the psh,
The clown perplex'd with grief and pain,
Swore he'd ne'er Try to milk agsio,
When turning round IN sad amaze,
He saw his cottage in blaze
for ~ he ohsnc'd to brush the room
1n careless haste he 6red the broom
The fire at last subdu'd, he swore
The broom and he would meet no more.
Press'd by misfortune aud perplex'd,
SlArby prepared for bresk'As next,
Nut what to get he scarcely knew.
The bread WAS spent. and butter too
His hands bedaub'd with paste and Bour.
old Darby lsbor'd fall an hour,
hut hspless wight be could not make
The bread take form Of loaf or cahe.
A. every door wide open stood,
N rush'd the SOW for want OF food,
And stumbling onwards with her snout
O'erset The churn-the cream run out.
As Darby turn'd the SOW to beat,
The siipp'ry cream betrayal his feet,
he csught the bread trough in his fall,
And down came Darby. trough and all.
fhe children wlken'd by the elatter.
Start up aud cry, la what's the matterp
Old Jowlsr bark d and yabby mew'd
and hApIess Darby bawpd aloud,
Return my Joan, - heretofore,
ri play the housewives part no more,
Since now BY sad experience taught,
Compared TO thine my work is nsught,
Hsnceforth. - business Calls, III take
Content. the plough, the scythe, the rake.
And never more tvaosgress the line
Dur iates have marh'd, while thou art mihe.
I'll vex thy honest soul no more
by scolding 40 Eve done before:
let each our proper task s,tend--
L. Al.