The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-07-08
FROM THE DESK OF
POOR ROBERT, THE SCRIBE.

, Now this would buy a cow and keen her
Two suits of clothes-a score of sheep-or
twenty good things, than brandy cheaper
OLD Robert.
There is pleasant little village which
5 stands on the borders of a small lake. in the
western part CT Connecticut. A tavern,
the only one in the town, kept at the sign OF
, The Grey Goose, entertained the passing
stranger, and in the winter evenings was the
place where we held our evening dances
for old Robert used to dance in his YOUNGER
days. remember well the merry EVENINGS
have enjoyed there, and methinks [ could
YET" tire down" the puny striplings of the
present day.
Among the, comma Mons "f ->~---4:----
were two, whose vivacity and wit | could
not but admire-and whose good nature
and virtues [ could not but love. Absolem
Active was the eldest of my friends. His
father was poor, but he gave Absolem a
good common education, and then bound
HIM an apprentice to respectable wagon
maker of the town. When | saw AbsoIem
last, before my late visit to Apple5erry-it
was his birth and wedding night Just %
years old-he had married black-eyed Su-
san, as we called her-and she might as
we'll have been called red lip'd Susan, for
l never saw cherries redder. He had
taken the shop for himself and having got
journeyman from New York, had added the
making Of chaises to his old business.
Absolem was MISREPRESENTATION was
| frugal-above all, Absolem was TEMPER
ATE" Grog and l." he used to say, " are
sworn enemies" Not but now and then he
would take glass of wine, or a mug of flip
with a friend but he drank sparngly.
They do say, though, that one fourth of July
! his eyes sparkled a little, and he could not
( say Sheholeth for the soul of him. But
that's neither here nor there he was o So
Der man.
And what do you think was the conse-
quence? Why, when went to Appleberry,
last October, who should hear them talk
ofbut the good Squire Active-and Deacon
Active-Why he has money to lend-he
owns two Of the best farms on the south
side of the lake-the poor all bless him.
He now rides in his coach on which is
I painted Bee an Ant, and glass upside
down, with this motto" INDUsTRY-FRU-
GALITY-TEMPERENCE. By these ride"
Edward Easy, my other companion, re-
ceived from his father fortune of five thou
sand pounds. At the age of nineteen, he
took his degree at Yale with singular honor.
The profession of the law suiting best his
capacity and inclination, he studied this
science under the most approved masters,
and at twenty-one he appeared at the bar
| never shall forget the day when he made
his first plea. All Appleberry went down
| to hear him, for Edward was forvorite of
the people: and we'll he might be, for there
wasn't single one in the village but could
tell of some good and kind thing he had
done.
The cause he plead was for a poor wild
ow woman. You may remember her-it
was old Mrs. Rogers who sold ginger-b bread
and beer just north of the meeting house
She had an only daughter, Il sweet rose
bud, just seventeen, who was the solace
and delight of her life. An unfeeling land
lord demanded the sacrifice of Mary, or
| threatened her ruin.
Well, the court was opened the wit
nesses examined and it came to Edwards
turn to speak. He rose o! he was a
| handsome man, but now he look'd pale
! his lip tremhled and his white hand shook.
! My heart tremhed for fear he would not
60 on. By-and-bye his voice rose; his
cheeks resumed their color-he raised his
arm most gracefully, and his eyes sparkled.
! You might have heard a pin fall. He, in
one moment, did stir up the feelings so
against the hard-hearted landlord, that every
one was in rage. And then he painted
the sufferings of the widow and ORPHAN
In spite of me, | cried like a child. |
never loved him half so we'll in my life.
| Onr parson, | remember, said that "the oil
of eloQuence was on his tongue, and the
honey Of persuasion distilled from his lips"
left him on the eve of being married to
Eunice Heartfree. She was worthy of him
she sung sweetly: could spin fifty knots
a day, and the parsons wife was heard to
say that "she made the best pudding OF
; any one in the village, except herself"
Now, until she fourth day Of last October,
had not been to Appleherry for eighteen
years. Just as the old town clock struck
4, entered the village. My heart autter-
ed. | looked around, in hopes to meet the
welcome of my friend. A gloom and solemn
stiffness seemed to pervade the village.
Presently the bell tolled-a funeral process
sion approached. | alighted at the Inn,
and Immediately enquired who was dead ?
." Alas the day" exclaimed the tavern
keeper, (who did know not me,) "there
goes the remains of a man, who eighteen
years ago, was the most promising youth in
all the country. Fortune education gen
ius,-all united to render him every thing.
But the morning BITTERs-the noon-tide
DRAM-and the evening SLING have wither-
ed the finest flowers in natures garden
Poor Easy God rest him."
Edward had been INTEMPERATE. In
temperance begat idleness, and neglect Of
business; poverty and wretchedness fol
lowed and he who might have reflected
, honor on his country, poisoned by grog
died beggar. But, "men of genius, treal
lightly on his ashes, for he was your kins
man )" and if you would avoid his fate, de
clare with my friend Active, that "you and
/ GRoG are sworn enemies"
1 Foul AND MUsTY CASKS. 1t is a fact
: TINT hntter tnhs which have become fon