The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-18
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FROM the Fesc Monthly Magazine.
THE OLD HAT.

I lifE OLD Hal.
| had a hiatt was not all hat
Fart OF the brim was gone yet still wore
Il on, and people wondered as | pass'd
Some turn'd to gaze--others just cast an eye
ana soon withdrew 1t, as 'twere in contempt
But still my hat, although so fashionlcss
In the complement extern, had that within
Surprising show-rny head continued warm !;
Being sheltered from the weather, spite of all
The want las had been said before) Of briIn
a change came DER the color of my hat.
That wllchwas black grew brown--and thes
men stared
With both their eyes (they stared with one be
fore-)
Inc wonder now was two-fold-and it seemed
Strange that thing SO old and torn should still
lie borne by one who migEt-but let that PASS
had my reasons, which might be reyeard
bnt ior some conntcr-reasons, far more strong
winch tied my tongue to silence. Time pass,o
On.
Green Spring and howcry Summer, Autumn
brown
And frosty Winter came, and went, and came
And still, through all the seasons of two Years
In park, in city, yea, at routes and balls,
The hat was worn and borne. The folks grew
wild
With curiosity, and whispers rose,
And questions pass'd about--how one so trim
in ccats, boots, pumps, gloves, trowsers, should
insconce
His caput in covering so vile.
A change came DER the nature of nv hat.
Grease spots appear'd-but still, in silence, on
wore it-and then family and friends
G.ared madly at each other. There was one
who said-but hold-no matter what was
said
A time may come when I--away-away-
Not Till the seasons ripe can reveal
thoughts that do lie too deep for common
minds
Till then the world shall not pluck out the
heart
OF this my mystery. When will will!
The hat was now greasy and old, and torn
bui toFn-oid--greasy-still wore it or.
4 change came DER the business of this hat.
Women, and men, and children, scowl'd on me /:
lily company was shunned-I was alone
None would associate with such hat
Friendship itself proved faithless for hat.
She that loved, within whose gentle breast
treasured up my heart, looked cold as death
Loves fires went out--extinguislied by hat
Of those that knew me best, some turn d aside.
And scudded down dark lanes one man did
Liis finger on his noses side, and jeered
Others in horrid mockery laughed outright
Yea, dogs, deceived by instincts dubious raw,
FIXING their swart glance on my ragged hat,
Mistook me for beggar, and they barked
Thus women, men, friends, strangers, lover,
dogs,
One thought pervaded all-it was my hat.
a change-it was the last-came DER this hat
For 10! at length the circling months went
round
The period was accomplished and one day
This tattered, brown, old, greasy coverture,
Cline had endear'd its vileness) was trans
ferred
To the possession of wandering son
OF IsraePs fated race-and friends once more
Greeted my digits with the wonted squeeze;
Once more went my way--along-a along
And plucked no wondering gnze-the hand Of
scorn
With its annoying finger-men and dogs
Once more grew pointlcss, jokeless, laughless,
growlless
And last, not least of rescued blessings, love
Love smiled on me again, when assumed
A bran new beaver of the Andre mould;
And then the laugh was mine, for then out
came
The secret of this strangeness-'t BET!