Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-01-22
Old Times and New.

Old Times and New.
We copy the following lines, read at the New FL
nd Societv's Festival at New York, December
'i6, by Allen &. Spooncr OF Boston, from the Co
Twas in my easy chair at home,
About a week ago,
sat and pulled my light cigar
As usual you must know
mused upon the Pilgrim flock
Whose luck it was to land
Upon almost the only rock
Among The Plymouth sand.
In my minds eve. 1 saw them leave
Their weather-beaten bark-
Before them spread the wintry wilds,
Behind, rolled ocean dark.
Alone tina, little handful stood
While savage foes lurked nigh,
Their creed and watchword, Trust in God
And keep your powder dry"
lm1ginaiion's pencil then
That first stern winter painted,
When more than halt their number died
And sloutest spirits tainted.
4 tear unbidden filled one eye,
My smoke had filled the other;
0le sees strange sights at such time,
Which quite the senses bother.
knew was alonc-bu 10!
(Lci him who dares, dcride me-
looked, and, drawing up chair,
Down sat man beside me.
His dress was ancient, and his air
Was somewhat strange and foreign--
lie civily returned my stare,
And said I'm Richard Warren ~
"You'l find my name among the list
OF hero, age and martyr.
Who, in the May flowers cabin signed
The first New England charter.
could some curious facts impart
Perhaps, some wise suggestions
But then, I'm bent on seeing sights,
And running DER with questions
Ask on" said |, "rll do my best
To give You Information,
Whether olprvae mon You ask,
Or our renowned nation
Says he First tell me what is that
In yon compartment narrow,
Which seems to dry my eycballs up,
And s;orcI my very mirrow.j
His finger pointed TO the CRATE
Said l--'1hat's Lehigh Coal.
Dug from the earth he sh ok his head
at Is, upon my soul :"
then took up bit of stick,
One end was black as night,
And rubbed it quick across the hearth,
When 10, sudden light.
My guest drew back, uprclled his eyes,
Aud stroyc his breath to CATCH
"What nccromancy's that he cried
Quoth |, "A friction match
Upon pipe Just overhead,
turned little screw,
When forth, with instantaneous flash,
Thrce streams OH IhtlIng ilcw.
uprose my guest "Now heaven me save"
Aloud he shouted then
rs that he'll fire !" "''Jis gas" said ],
1--WE call it hydrogen
Then forth into the fields we s,rolled,
4 train came laundering by
Drawn by the snorlny IRON steed,
Switter than eagles fly
Rumbed the wheels, the whistle shrieked
Far sireamed the smoky cloud,
Echoed the hills, the valleys shook,
The flying forests bowed.
Down on his knees, with hands appraised
In worship, Warren fell
Great is the Lord our Cod cried he
He doe,h all things well,
give seen his chariois Of fire,
The horscmen, too, thereof;
q, may Ter provoke his ire.
\ or at his threatenlngs scui1
"Rise up, my friend, rise up" said
"G our terrOrs all are win
That was no chariot OF the sky,
Twas the New ork mail train"
We stood within chamber small
Men came the news TO know,
From Worcester, Springfield and New DIRK,
Texas and Mexico.
1t camc-it wcnt-silent but sure
He stared smiled, burst ont laughing;
"What witchcrail's that p Its what we call
Magnetic telegraphing"
Once more we stepped into the street;
Said Warren, "What is that
(Which moves along across the way
CAS- softly as cat I"
81 mean the thing upon two legs,
with feathers on its head
"A monstrous hump beowts waist,
Large as a feather bed
at has the gift of speech, | hear;
But sure it cant be human p
My aniabe friend" said |,
That's what We call a woman"
Eternal powers : it cannot be-
Sighed he, with voice that filtered
81 loved the women in my day,
But, oh they're strangely altered"
showed him then new machine
For turning eggs to chickens,
A labor saving hennery,
That beats the very dickens
Thereat, he strongly graspcd my hand,
And said, " It's plain TO see
"Ths world il so rdHSmOgrFed,
Twill never do ior me"
Yourteegraphs, your railroad trains,
"lour gas lights, friction matches,
"Y our hamp backed women, rocks for coal
"Your thing which chickens matches,
"Have turned the earth so upside down,
" No urace is left within it.
Then, whiring round upon his heel
lie vanished, in minute.
Forthwith, my most veracious pen
Wrote down what had heard,
And here, dressed up in doggeIcl thyme,
y on have it, word Tor word