Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-26
SELECTED POETRY.

from the n. E. Galaxy and Mercury.l
TIE DEVIL. IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,.
Ger land and sea his ctarir'dspirit passed"
The devil came up one afternoon
In the streets of this goodiy city;
Said he, ttpughi've hs'd in the place full long,
Aud in it have proseytes plenty and strong,
never have selected amongst the thronS
A mini s.er--more's the pity!
There's vacant seat IN my caoinet now
Agap in my administration;
But here nv subordinate ranks are so full,
So inst are the claims of numerous school,
twill be hard to select the wortaie<t TOOL
Fur this important station p"
Then the devil gathered his tail around,
And ro'd UP his scarlet eye:
Thought he, I'll take my chance for man
In sober walk and closely scan
The various claimants who may suit my plan.
Saws the devil, al can but try"
So Mephistopheles stood "on chang"
Till he saw noted miser,
Said he, "this spindeshanked rascal would screw
From the desolste widow her dollars few,
And consgn her children to brothsl or stew
But want \ scoundrel wiser"
Then he walked little further on,
Til he met debSuchee;
And the devil looked in his face with grin
Thought he, original talent must win
A place in my cabinet-now this thin
Old lecAer has nought but original sin!
lie never viii do for me.
=.
The next who came was staef name
A sturdy, slow cssher,EAS
." Ah ha!" cried Disbolus. ss VS. no fool,
A glorious fellow who lies ~ rule,
And SAYS no money'--but out of school
Can find some at twelve per csnt-yet tool
OF masters twelve, fear"
So he walked up Washington street. snd saw
HfAvorte tonish lad,;
Said the devil, there's disciple true,
Who would steal a stocking, veil, or shoe,
Tell lies of her neighbor. and swear thereto
But petticoat ministers never Will do
The American cabinets all in q stew
About woman already"
Then the devil met with popular priest,
And shouted for very Joy;
For he knc " him to be diplomatst keen,
Who could one thing say, and another thing mean,
Talk of this vanishing, temporal scene,
Tipple aud riot behind the screen-
Thought the devil he cannot be spared ween
Hes nolo IN n'y employ
Next Diabolus went TO the theatre,
To lock Mr. Finn;
But he cried for very spite to see
The talented MawwOrm make SO free
With his isvorite subjects" Curse him." said he,
"lf Finn were not 50 honest, he'd be
The very fellow to represent NE
Ia the Cabinet Council Of SIM"
Mephisopheles rolled his ewes around
And theyfcil upon editor;
When he gathered full hastily up his tail,
And his sheet-roh cOuntenmce turned quite pale,
And he left the house with dreadful wall
Twas The author of many u scan,laous tale
Said the devil, " he's my creditor!"
His majesty walk'd down Court street next,
With the stride of baficd giants
Gsz'd at the lawyers signs with smile,
Thought ne, ia limb can he found whose style
OF dealing woull not the devil de6le,
I'll take hm-howe2er, I'll chat a while
With each and every .hcnt.
But soon Diabolus issued forth
With coun,ensnce fallen and pale;
White the molten lead from his eye lids stream'd,
Aud the devil with bodily anguish screamed,
For the lawyers, piece by niece. 1t seemed,
Had stolen Che ,rhoie Of has tai'
But hisrcd eye CLEANED with helish blaze
At the very next man he saw;
Twas one who, having obtained his end,
3 trsyed, deserted, and ruined his frend,-
But left nm portion of cash to spend
In the pleasant pursuit OF law!
Mephistopheles threw on this Judas
glance Of friendship sini,teri
Said he, "the rascal who coOlly betrays
The friend who assisted him all his days,
I'll take--for he will make, As Shakespeare says,
A Flaming Minister?" XIV.