Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-05-25
From the New England Farmer.
THE BIRD s,

Ill II Is IL - 81
ApoEM, IN METRE FREE AND EASY.
THOU, who, story eers say,
Taught old T'iptolemus the way
To plough, and SOW,
Aud reap, and NOW,
The fields to beauty, and dress, and rig,
Just as barber used TO do the parsons wig
To fall the forests and the plains a1orn
With heritage, and with wavy corn;
To speak in brief,
Bright mother Ceres, Of the golden sheaf,
Come, lend thy aid,
Else, Pm afraid
l cannot, shall not, must not-"go ahead"
That's just enough Of invocation;
I always hate stuff'd Grafton,
The gods and godesses to puff and daub:
III not. but others may perform the lusomc job
Farmers, attend
Pvh that $ too blunt ;-"I'll leave 10 amend"
As lawyers say, when in hobble,
And would an inuenGo cobbIe.
Well then,
My mos, worthy gentlemen,
I've come to tell in (twest words
Something relating to the birds.
The birds love, [dovc.
Fen from the noble Eagle to the sweet Turtle
The Sparrow, Tonhit, and the twlering Wren.
Ay, and | would that truant boys and lhoughlless
Were not on murder bent, linen
Foul, barbarous intent,
Degrading all our nature
To a savage creature;
But yet, alas, how rife
This love of taking life tma'e'
JOY, sings the merry Lark to cheer his sitting
Les, she should be disConsoate
"Im here, street Ceiia," is the tender strain;
And how i, echoes DER The blooming plain
But bark shot
The little warbler falls
The cruel sportsman b"wls,
An! runs, cxuIing to the fatal spot.
So caiiif, thou hast done the deed,
Has, caused a little bird TO bleed,
The meauesl feather of whose wing iih'ns :
Ou,.eigh- thy savage soul, thou brutal, bar1'rous
o, We husbandmen and farmers, lmers'
Have We no care, no though. for those little char
Tha, carol DER your lawn,
From the first break of dawn,
"Di.coursing music" tender, soft and sweet,
For ears in love with melody so meet q!
Know We not hat birds project yonr farms
From predatory miIlers, grubs, :lugs and worms
they arc your friends indeed,
And, though upon YOU, lands they feed,
Yes, gather daily, all heir food,
II slill is for your good.
So that well you might in truth,
As Boaz did for Ruth,
Order some gleanings Of your bounteous fare,
Left purposely for birds to share,
Tr,ptolemus, the husbandman Of yorc,
u whom spoke before,
lie would no more
Allow poaching rascal on his farm
The birds to harm,
Than he d permit knave 10 chouse
Him OF his shield or rob his house.
O, by Jastinado or the knout. [about
The rougue would soon repent OF what he Il bee
Farmers, then protect The lea,herel tribe:
Ispeak it, not in ending jeer OF jlbe,
SoLerly, sincerely,
Though you may think my verse runs qucery;
very singular sort -
Long pulls, and shofl,- stump
Some~h hat like ploughmg new ground, midst Il
Now steady moving NOW By jerks AMI jumps.
Perhaps they III say my muse
Wears tight shoes,
Or has 6, GA. "CUrns upon her tocs,
And so she limping goes.
No matter, truth you II often find
In verse OF eveiy sort and kind
And you will have squeamishness
About my manner Of address,
Once more permit me just to say;
Save, save the birds Mehercuie
Should e'er popping oaier tread your grounds,
Let loose your hounds, Ibound
And chase the bastard villain from yonr ulmo
AGRlCOLA,
FEBRUARY 25th, 1887.
4 L.. q. Al