The Portland gazette., 1823-10-14
POETRY.
FROM RoSI,II THE PROVIDENCE JouRn,,
POETRY RUN MAD. NAL

fhom IHE PROVIDENCE Joupu
POETRY RUN MAD ONSAL'
l.
There's something very curious in The r
In which you can twist words into rhy ,,a'''eF
Single and double
To see how one thisg with another chimes.
That is if you've not viii to plan
Story, OF something else to write about
Without
Much trouble.
Suppose we try II now.-One Asa Stoke
One of those men whom every thing nrovokes
A sarly-tempered, eviminded, beaTish.
Ill-natured kind of being
He was the Deacon Of the parish
And had the overseeing
OF some small matters, such as the rinaipa
Of the church bell, and took the lead in sipriro
III.
Well: Deacon Stokes had gone n he'd ,Do ,;.L.
About eleren-
Twas in December, if my memory's right,
In-'97.
Twas cold enough to make Russian shiver.
think, never
Knew
Colder than this I'm faith it was blue onst
As by the Almanack. foretold Twas.
A real Lapland night. Good Lord how cold twas
w.
There was chap about there named Ezekiel
A cleUer-gOod. .for-nothing feLlo,c
Who, very often, used to get quite mellow;
OF whom, the Deacon always used to speak i'll:
For he was fond of cracking Jokes
On Deacon Stokes;
To shew
What terms he stood, among the ,Uomsn folks,
And so
II came to pass that on the night spake Of
Ezekiel left the tavern haT-room where
He'd spent the evening for the sake Of
Drowning his care
BY partaking
OF the melry-making
And enjoyment
OF some good fetIo,os there whose sole EMPLOYMENT
Was, in all kinds of weather,
On every night,
by early candle-ight,"
To get together,
Reading the papers, smoking pipes and che,Oing;
Telling long yarns, and pouring down "tke ruin.
W.
"Pretty well corned," and +" up to any thing !"
Drunk as lord, and happy king,
" Blue as razor" from his midnight reve
Not fearing muskets, women, Or the devili
With light heart
Much lighter than feather;
With light soul.
That spurned the freezing weather
And with a head
Ten times as light as either;
And purse, perhaps as light as altogether;
On went Ezekiel, with great expansion
OF thought,
Up, at post before the Deacon's mansion.
With one arm round the post while he Stood
In thoughtful mood;
With one eve tun'd
Up towards the window where,
A candle burned:
Then, with serious
Face, and grave mysterious
Shake Of the head,
Ezekiel said
(His right eye, once more. thrown
L Ueon the beacon
That from the window shone j
III start the Deacon.
VIII
Rap, rap, rap. rap went Deacon Stokes knocker.
Bui no one stired.--Rap rap, il went again
Bv George lit must be after ten o'clock, or
They take an early hour for turning IN"
Rap. rap rap. rap.--my conscience how they keep
fellow waiting Lord how sound they sleep !"
The Deacon then began to be alarmed;
And in amaZement,
Threw up the easement;
Aud with cap on head,
Of iery red,
Demanded what the cause was, Of the riot
That, thus, disturbed his quiet.
XT.
Quite cool this evening Deacon Stokes"-replisd
The voice below" Well, WELL sir what's the
matter!'
Quite chilly Deacon; how your teeth do chatter"
e.. 4 vntt ttynp
To shew yOnr wit--for am almost frozen.
Be off; OF I'll come down and put the lash on
" WHY. bless you, Deacon--dont be in a passion -
Twas all in vain
To speak again
For, with the Deacons threat about the lash.
Down went the sash.
XII.
Rap rap, rap, rap. the knocker went again
And neither Of 'em a very light rap
ThUmp thump, against the door, went Zeklel cane
And that, oHce more, brought Deacon Stokes night
cap.
" Very cold weather, Deacon Stokes, o-night. -
4" Bsgone, you vile,
Insoleut dog-or I'll
Give you a tcarming--and should serve you right
You villain il is time to end your hoax. -
=" Why bless your soul and body, Deacon Stokes; /;
Don't he cross;
When I've come here,
In this severe
Night which is cold enough to kill horse
For your advice
Upon very difficult and nice
Question now, Lord bless you
Deacon, do make haste and dress you"
XIV.
We'll, we'll out with it if il must be SO.
BE quick about it.
Tn very cold"
" Well Deacon, l don't doubt it
In few words the matter can be told.
Deacon. the case is this.--I want to know,
IF this cold rCeather holds, all summer here
WhGt time green peas, ciH be along, merit year
In Furnis-street, Brook street, Charlton