Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-03-01
OLD TIMES N NEW.
1.-THE following lines we're written for the Annis
versary of the New England Society of New York.

About a week ago
l sat and pulled my light cigar,
As usual, you must know
Unused upon the pilgrim flock,
Whose luck it was to land
Upon almost the only rock
Among the Plymouth sands.
In my minds eye / saw them leave
Their weather-beaten bark
Before them spread the wintry wilds,
Behind rolled Ocean dark.
Imagination's pencil then
That first stern winter painted,
When more than half their number died,
AND stoutest spirits tainted
A tear unbidden filled one eye,
NV smoke had filled the other:
One sees strange sights at such a time,
Which quite the senses bother.
knew | was alone-but 10 -
(Let him who dares, deride me,)-
l looked, and, drawing up a chair,
Down sat a man beside me.
His dress was ancient, and his air,
Was somewhat strange and foreign,
He civiIly returned my stare,
And said "I'm Richard Warren:
"You'l find my name upon the list
OF hero, sage and martyr,
Who, in the Mayfower cabin, signed
The first New England charter.
could some curious facts impaft,
Perhaps some wise suggestions;
But then, Pm bent on seeing sights,
And running Ger with questions.
"Ask on" said I, "IIl do my best,
To give YOU information,
Whether of private men you ask,
Or our renowned nation"
Said he, "First tell me what is that
In your compartment narrow,
Which seems to dry my e~ye-balls up,
And scorch my very marrow"
His finger pointed to the grate;-
Said /, 90 that's Lehigh coal,
Dug from the earth, "-he shook his head
1T is-upon my soul )"
| then took up a bit of stick,
One end was black as night,
And rubbed it quick across the hearth,
When Ola sudden light!
NY friend drew back, uprolled his eyes,
And strove his breath to catch,
"What necromancy IS that 2" he cried,
Quoth Il " a friction match"
Upon a pipe Just overhead,
turned a little screw,
When forth with instantaneous t1ashb
Three streams oflightning flew.
Uprose nv guest-"Now Heaven me save!m
Aloud he shouted-then
Z" Is that hell-fre 2" '.'Tis gas" said ],
1--WE callit hydrogen"
Then forth into the fields we strolled
A train came laundering by
Drawn by the snoring iron steed,
Swifter than eagles fly.
RumbIed 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 appraised
In worship, Warren fell
"Greati is the Lord our God" cried he,
"He doeth all things well.
"T've seen his chariots of fire,
The horsemen too, thereof;
., may | meier provoke his ire,
Nor at his threatnings sooff."
"Rise UP, NV friend, rise up" said 1,
"Your terrors all are vain
That was no chariot of the skyA
Twas the New York mail train."
We stood within a chamber small,
Men came the news to know,
From Worcester s ring6eld and New York,
Texas and Mexico:
II came-it went-silent, but sure;-
He started, smiled, burst out laughing,
"What witchcraft's that ? "lt's what we call
Magnetic telegraphing."
Once more we stepped into the street:
Said Warren-''what is that 2"
That moves along across the way,
As softly as a cat
l mean the thing upon two legs,
With feathers on its head,
A monstrous hump below its waist,
Large as a feather bed.
"It has the gift oe speech 1 hear,
But sure it can't be human
"My amiable friend,'' said L,
"That's what we call a woman"
External Powers. it cannot be,
Sighed he with voice that faltered,
81 loved the women in my day,
But oh they've strangely altered"
Ishewgd him then a new machine,
For turning eggs to chickens,
A lavor-saving h%ennery,
That beats the very dickens.
Thereat he strongly grasped my hand,
And said, IT'S plain to see
This world is so transmogrihed
Twill never do for me.
Your telegraph, your railroad trains,
Your gas-lights, friction matches;
Your hump-back women, rocks for coal.
Your thing which chickens matches.
"Have turned the earth so upside down..
No peace is left within it,"
Then whisking round upon his heel,
He vanished in a minute.
Forthwith my most veracioiis pen
Wrote down what | had heard:
And here dressed up in doggrell rhyme,
You have it word for word.