Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-21
poetry,
Old Times and New.

Twas in my easy chair at home,
About week ago,
! sat and pulled my light segar
As usual, you must know.
unused upon the Pilgrim flock
Whose luck it was to land
Upon almost the only rock
Among the Plymouth sand.
In my minds eye, saw them leave
Their weather-beaten bark
Before them spread the wintry wilds,
Behind, rolled ocean dark,
Alone that little handful stood
While savage foes lurked nigh,
Their creed and watchword, Trust in God
And keep your powder dry
Imagination's pencil then
That first stern winter painted,
When more than half their number died
And stoutest spirits tainted.
A tear unbdden filled one eye,
My smoke had filled the other;
One sees strange sights at such time,
Which quite the senses bother.
knew was alone-but 10!
Let him who dares, deridc me--)
looked, and, drawing up chair,
Down sat man beside me.
His dress was ancient, and his air
Was somewhat strange and foreign
lie civlly returned my stare,
And said Pm Richard Warenp
You'll find my name among the list
Of hero, sage and martyr,
Who in the Mayfower's cabin, signed
The first New England charter.
could some curious facts impart-
Perhaps, some wise suggestions
But then, Pm bent on seeing sights,
And running DER with questions
ASK on said l, III do my best
To give you information,
Whether of private men you ask,
Or our renowned nation
Says he, First tell me what is that
In your compartment narrow,
Which seems to dry my eyebulls up,
And scorch my very marrow
His finger pointed to the CRATE
Said l. That's Lehlgh coal,
Dug from the earth-he shook his head
{ 1t is, upon my souln
then took up bit of stick,
One end was black as night,
And rubbed ii quick across the hearth,
When 10, sudden light!
My guest drew back, uproled his eyes,
And strove his breath to catch
what necromancy's that he cried
Quoth |, "A friction match
Upon pi pc just overhead,
turned little screw,
When forth, with instantaneous flash,
Three streams of lightning flew.
Uprose my guest; Now heaven me save
Aloud he shouted, then
Is that hell-6re = otis gas said |,
I'VE call it hydrogen
Then forth into the fields we strolled
A train came laundering by,
Drawn by the snorting iron steed,
Swifter than eagles fly.
Rumbled the wheels, the whistle shrieked,
Far streamed the smoky cloud,
Echoed the hills, the valleys shook,
The flying forests bowed
Down on his knees, with hands upraised
In worship, Warren fell
Great is the Lord our God cried he
He doeth all things WE'LL
'l've seen his chariots of fire,
The no, semen too, thereof;
o, may meier provoke his ire,
Nor at his threatenings scott
Rise up, my friend rise up said /,
Your terrors all are vain
That was no chariot of the sky,
twas the New York mail train
We stood within chamber small
Men came the news to know,
From Worcester, Springfield and New York
Texas and Mexico.
1t came-it went-silent but sure
He started, smiled, burst out laughing;
'What witchcruft's that ?--' it's what we ca
Magnetic telegraphing.'
Once more we stepped into the street;
Said Warren, What is that
Which moves along across the way
'As softly as cat?
/ mean the thing upon two legs,
with feathers on its head
"A monstrous hump below its waist,
Large as feather bed.
at has the gift of speech, hear;
{ But sure it can't be human"
my amiable friend, said |,
That's what we call woman
Eternal powers it cannot be-
Sighed he, with voice that faltered;
Il loved the women in my day,
But, oh! they're strangely altered
showed him then new machine
For turning eggs to chickens,
A labor-savlng hennery
That beats the very dickens.
Thereat, he strongly grasped my hand,
And said, "Tis plain to see
this world is so tranSmog7ifed,
Twill never do for me.
your telegraphs, your railroad trains,
Your gas lights, frction-matches,
'Your hump-backed women, rocks for coal,
your thing which chickens matches,
Have turned the earth so upside down,
No peace is left within it
Then, whirling round upon his heel
He vanished, in minute.
Forthwith, my most veracious pen
Wrote down what had heard,
And here, dressed up in doggerel rhyme,
You have it, word for word.