The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-21
MISCELLANY

TFoR THE MASSACHUSETTS Sr
A DRE.a.E.

Human happiness is exposed to many
aanoyances, and subject to frequent and
painful interruptions. The most favour
ed situations. which the world can ar
ford, are not exempted from inconve-
nience and trouble; and these who en-
joy them may wear, indeed, smile OIL
their couHteaances; but their hearts are
often aprey to the keenest anguish. Infe-
licity is confined to no station nor conn
try, but is more or less the lot of human
ity in every condition of life, and in ey-
cry place. In one country. where, per-
haps, in every other respect, nature has
dealt with a propitious liberality, we fad
the volcano, which from its yawning
crater belches death and destruction. In
another, the poisonous blast that spreads
contagion, and the whirlwini that buries.
in its fury, every thing which meets It's
impetuous and irresistible march. In
third roams the fierce blool-snufing''
beast of prey: here basks the serpent
from whose fangs distl the fatal poison:
ttrv5sS g. l. t.---~s, l-se.,ssy rn,5vy
of reptiles. In one place the verdure
withers, aad animated natnre pants be-
meath the scorching heat of a vertical
sun; and in another, all is buried in po-
lar SHOWS, and the cherries aspect and
chilling blast Of winter Weld not TO
the smiles and life-invigorating gales of
spring.
Such were my musings, as | lately lazy
upon my bed, after having passed te-
dious day, when at length fell asleep.
But my mind seemed TO dwell, in
dream, on those subjects which had
been passing through it when awake.
thought that our country was, indeed, free
from most Of these and many other e.
qualIy proliick sources of misfortune
and death; but that she too had her pests
and calamities. Among these, as the
whole country appeared to be within my
view, the one which particularly fixed.
my attention seemed to be a kind of vo-
racious, Unsuitable bird OF prey. This
restless l:arpy, contrary to the custom of
all other rapacious birds, chose not for
its residence the ragged, lonely cliff Of
the mountains, or the towering oak of
the gloomy forest, but lowered, with its
unceasing, hated croak, about our cities.
our villages and towns, and perched up
% our very dwellings.
When the thong of persecution, me-
bought, drove our ancestors from their
naive country to seek an asylum in the
uncuItivated wills of America, this pest,
with its raven scream, followed them
across the stormy ocean; and, pure and
Tirtuous as the manner of life among the
pilgrims was, it haunted their settle
ments, though forced to- CLEAN scantv
sustenance from the filth and offscour-
ings of society. 1t was then viewed, m
deed, with that just disgust and abhor-
renee which ever attaches itself to the
noisome, carrion-devogring tribe. They
drove it from their abodes and forced II
TO seek shelter, if not in the dreary
Businesses of the desart, at least in filthy
novels and the decaying hut, fit haunts
for SO loaihsome q creature.
But all their EXERT ms could not extir-
pate. the race, and rid themselves forev-
er Of so dire pest. As they gradually
increased in Numbers, and by persever-
ance and indefatigable industry, in deli
ance ofdanger, hardship, and even death.
secured the blessings Of peace and pIen-
", relaxing little the austerity Of their
lives, this scourge Of our land quit the
solitary hooks to which it had been driv-
en-, and flocked about the resorts of So
ciety. 1t was now, thought I, instead Of
being viewed with the detestation which