The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-06-18
POE y.
From the New Monthly Magazine.
AN EVERY DAY CHARACTER.
Fallentis semita eitG-HOI

Near small village in the West,
Where many very worthy people
Fat, drink, play whist, and do their best
10 guard from evil Church and Steeple,
There stood, alas. il stands no rDore!--
" A tenement Of brick and plaster,
OF which, for forty ysars and four,
My good friend Ounce was lord and master!
Welcome was he, in hut and hail.
To maids and matrons, peers and peasants,
He won the syPamthies of all
BY making puns, and making presents:
Though all the Parish were at strife,
lie kept his counsel, and his carriage,
And laugh'd and loved quiet life,
And shrabk from Chancery suits and mar
riogc.
Sound was his claret no his head;
Warm was his double ale, and feelings,
His partners at the whist club said,
That he was fdultlcss in his dealings
lie went 10 Church but once a week;
YET DIR. Poundtcxt always found him
An upright man, who stndied Greek,
And liked to see his friends around him.
Asylums, Hospitals, and Schools.
lie used TO swear were made TO cozon;
All who subscribed TO them were fools,
And he subscribed to half a dozen;
il was his doctrine that the poor
We're aways able, never willing;
And so the beggar at his door,
Had first abuse, and then shilling.
Some public principles he had,
But was no hatteTer, nor fretter;
He RAPID his box when things were bad,
And said, f" cannot make them better"
And much no ontii'd tho patriots snort,
And much Inc scorn'd the placcman's shuttle;
And cut the fercest quarros short,
With-"Pasieaec, gentleman, and shuttle -
For full ten years his pointer, Speed
Had coucb'd beneath her masters table;
For twice ten years his old white steed
Had lattcnd in his masters stable
Old Ounce avcrr'd, upon his troth
They wcro the ugliest beasts IN Devon;
And mono knew why he fed thom both,
With his own hands, six days in seven.
Wbcnc'er they heard his ring or knock,
Quicker than thought, tho village slattevns
Flung down the novel, smooth d the frock,
And took up Mrs Glassc, and patterns;
Adline was studying baker bills;
Louisa look d the queen of knlttcrs;
Jane happcn'd tn be h0mmlng irills;
And Bell, by chance, was making fritter.
Eut all was vain and whilo Decay
Came like tranquil moonlight DER him,
With no fair Nurse To bless or bore him;
His rugged smile, and easy chair,
His dread of matrimonial lectures,
Ills wig, his stick, his powdered hair,
Were themes for very strange conjcctures.
Some sages thought tho stars above
Had crazod him with excess of knowledge;
Somo heard he had been cross'd in love,
Before he came away from College
L., tnI hat -.
Did nothing, great or small, without him,
Some whisper d with a solemn face,
That there was something odd about him!
I found him at threescore and ten,
A single man, but bent quite double;
Sickness was coming on him thon,
To take him from a world of trouble
lie proscd of slipping down the hill,
Discovered he grow older daily
Ono frosty day he made his will
The mex. he sent for DR. Bailey.
And so he lived - and so he died.
When last sat beside his pillow,
lie shook my hand--"Ah!' he cried,
"Penelope must ware the willow.
Toll her hugg her rosy chain
Whilo life was hckeripg in the socket;
And say. that when call again,
III bring license IN my pocket
"I've left my house and grounds to Fag-
q hopo his masters shoes will suit hinj)
And I've bcquee,hcd To you my nog,
70 feed him for my sakc--or shoot him.
The Wears wife will take old Fox
Shell find him an uncommon mouserj--
And lot her husband have my box,
My Bible, and my Assmanshnusor.
"Whcthcr I ought to die or not
My doctors cannot quito determine;
It's only clear that shall rot,
And be, like Priam, food for vcrmin.
My debts are paid;--. out natures debt
Almost escaped my recollection
Tom,--wo shall meet again;--and yet