The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-01-13

hc sed-gous cntFeHteu MS lnaJcs'y w pc
calm, and intimated that he was only injnr-
ing his own subjects. He replied
"Varlets and yagAbonds. bring the my
tridentp
At length Mercury appeared, and with
three bows, (for Mercury had travelled and
was wonderfully polite,) returned the tri-
dent, and related the story.
Why, you desperate thief cried the
watery god, the brine drippling from his
hoary beard, you impudent valet, Jupiter's
compliments that for Jupiter, you his
ambassador you his con6dant! you be
hanged by Olympus you are plebein.'
4 tell you what, old chap said the am
bassador, you might as well keep Civil
tongue in your head
Earthquakes and thunder you rascal !
rejoined the enragcd king, if ever catch
you upon my realms again, I'll give you to
my monsters; you shall make bonne
bouche for one of my whales avaunt you
ragamuffin.'
That for you = said Mercury, snap
ping his thumb and finger under the very
nose of the god, ''that-that--tha for you!
your monsters and you may go to Pluto
Oh, old chap, no Dragging, no bullying with
me, Pm none of your dolphins.'
Why, you unutterable son of gum
cried Neptune, bursting with wrath, so help
me Saturn, my father, if ever / catch you
an inch on our domain again, I'll drown you
like blind kiuen-you're scaramouch.
Curse inc if ever saw such harlequin. +"
'Oh, you vulgar old fool said Mercury,
in the most tantalizing manner, lighting on
the edge Of the chariot, and sticking his
chin defyingly In the face of his enemy,
you're regular loafer, and so far from re-
framing to come mysclfupon your kingdom,
| I'll teach man to traverse it as higl-road /;
I'll have it overrun with boats, ships-whole
fleets. By the Styx! I'll people it with
steamboats,
So saying, and snapping his fingers again
at his foe, now altogether speechless with
rage, he leaped off into the air, and was of
in the twinkling Of an eye. Neptune duck.
ed beneath the food. My pen is mortal
it cannot paint his feelings.
In about three minutes Mercury alightet
in Phmnicia on the banks Of the rivel
Eleutherus, which falls into the Medtera.
mean below the island Aradus. He there
saw shepherd standing on the shore con
templaling some trees on the other side o
the stream
"What are you looking at!' cried Mer
curry.
"fhat fine fruit" answered the shep
herd. 81 have been here all my life ten
ding flocks.-Every autumn that fruit ri
/ pens and falls, and is eaten by the birds; ant
though behold it for ever, can neye
reach it.
Cant you swim!" asked the god.
"No," said the shepherd; and if / coul
tits too for swimmer"
''Look here!" said Mercury; Gust lem
u me your axe"
l Sraightway he went and cut down tree
y chopped off the branches, hewed out tn
/; trunk constructed pair of oars.-and, be
hold, boat!
Jump in" said Mercury, "don't be {
rraid."
In five minutes the shepherd reache
If the long-desired spot, and had soon cate
v as much as he wished.
SNOW" said Mercury, "whcre are yo
goingl"
; "Back again to my sheep, to be sure,
c replied the shepherd.
d "What! won't you take some fruit
/ your wife and children! You can carry it
the boat, you know"
l. "La!" said the shepherd, "do tell
IL "You can do more," rejoined Mercur,
7, "you can take over not only enough f