The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-05-21
tFrom the Atheneum. /
THE POND.
30&lG;

L
Consuming all his time and strength away,
10 make the pond rise higher every day
he work'd and slav'd, and " Oh how slow il
ellis!
PouF'd in by pailfuls, and took out BY giIls -
In wet season, he would skip about,
Placing his buckets under every spout
From falling showers collecting fresh supply,
And srudsing every cloud that passed by;
Gries'd at the dryness of the times each hour,
Although it rain'd as fast a. il could pour.
Then ne would wade thro' every dirty spot,
Where any little moisture could be got
And when he had done draining of a bog,
Still Kept himself as dirty as hog;
and cried, whene'er folks blani'd him. !" What
dye mean?
1t costs world of water to be clean ~
If some poor neighbour crav'd to Stake hi.
thirst,
What, rob my pond III see the rogue
hang'd first.
a burning shame, these vermin of the poor
Should creep unpunish'd thus about my door
As it had not frogs and toads enow,
10 suck my pond, whatever can do !"
The sun still found him, as he rose or set,
Always in quest Of matters that were wet
Betimes he rose, to sweep the morning dew,
And waited late to catch the evening too.
With soughs and troughs he labour'd to enrich
The rising pond from every neighbouring ditch.
With soughs and troughs, and pipes, and cuts,
and sluices,
From growing plants he drain'd the very juices,
Made every stick of wood upon the hedges
OF good behaviour to deposit pledges,
Nv sornp cauvevap1a -
Devised recruits from every neighbourins hill.
he left, in short, for this beloved plumber,
No stone unturn'd that could have water
under.
Sometimes, when forc'd to quit his usual
toll,
And, sore against his will, to rest awhile,
Then straight he took his pen, and down he
sat,
To calculate the expenses he was at:
Row much ne sufer'd, at a moderate
guess,
From all those ways by which the pond grew
For as to those BY which the pond grew big
ger,
For them ne reckon'd not single figure;
lie knew wise old saying, which MAINTAINED.
That twas bad luck to count what one had
gain'd.
First, for myself-the daily charges here
Cost prodigious quantity year;
Although, thank Heaven, never boil my meat,
Nor am e'er so foolish as to sweat.
But things are come to such pass, indeed,
We use ten times the water that we need
People are grown, with washing. cleansing,
rincing,
.
So hnical and nice, past all convincing
30 many proud fantastick modes, in short,
Are INTRODUCED, that my poor pond pays fort
Not but could be well enough content
With what upon my own account is spent /:
But those large articles, from whence reap
No kind Of profit, strike me on heap.
What vast deal each moment, at sup,
This ever-thirsty earth itself drinks up
Such holes! and gaps. Alas my pond pro-
Scarce for its own uncomfortable sides.
Nay, how can one imagine it should thrive.
So many creatures as it keeps alive.
That creep from every nook and corner, mar
y.
Flching as much as ever they can carry.
Inen all the birds that fly along the air,
Light at my pond, and come in for share.
Item, at every pun of wind that blows,
Away at once the surface of il goes;
The rest in exhalation of the sum
One months's fair weather, and am undone -
This life he led for many a year together.
Crew old and grey in watching of the wealth
er!
Meagre as death itself, till this same death
Stopp'd, as the saying is, his vital breath.
For as he once was carrying to his field
A burthen heavier than he well could WELD.
he miss'd his footing, or in some way fun
bid,
In tumblins Of finland in he tumbpd.
Mighty DESTROYS to get out again,
He scream'd aud scrambl'd-but 'twas all ia
vain:
The place was grown by far too deep and wide,
Nor bottom OF it could he feel, nor side;
So i'th' middle Of his pond--he died.
What think you now of this imperfect
sketch,
My friends, Of such miserable wretch.
!" Why, IT'S a wretch, we think, Of your own
making
No fool can be supposed in such taking
Your own warm fancy :"-Nay, or warm
or cool,
The world abounds with many such fool
The choicest ills, the greatest torrents, sure.
Are those which numbers labour to endure.
What! for pond :'--Iyhy, call ii an
fou change the name, bua realise Ike fate.
MRTrHNrr nrrr