American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-01


forth such mouse. This infant was not nursed
by a she-wolf, as was Romulus and Remus of
old but it was, assuredly, by a she tger--for it
was traditionary with us, before the Revolution
made us toss genealogical trees to the d-l,
and plant liberty. trees in their stead--it was
traditionary with us that this brat was brought
up in tribulation, and consequently became a
stunted, crooked, rascally, red-headed knaye,
without any thing to recommend him but
his distress. They never took the trouble to
name him at all--at least his founder did
not; but all the varlets that ever climbed
up and rolled down those big hills agreed
unanimously (they were at loggerheads about
every thing else) in calling him Scrog,"
which is stunted, knarled bush, often met
with in those regions, and by aid of which,
leaping, with surprising precision, from one to
another, he would cross frightful precipices, or
scale the perpendicular sides of yawning CULTS,
as readily and rapidly as one of us would ex-
haust a mint julep. These urchins became
much attached to my yagabond ancestor, with
out disrespect be it spoken, but surely US he
was foreigner | can be excused) They be-
came much attached to him was saying for
he had the innate faculty of making and keeping
friends that his descendants all possess, as you,
gentlemen, will readily allow, having the privi-
lege of knowing me. lie was intimate with
every freckle-faced scamp in the neighborhood,
and beyond it; so that in time there was not
a disreputable scheme on foot that Scrog, or
Scroggy, as he was more often affectionately
called, was not at the bottom of it. Indeed,
there was not black eye-(both natural as
well as artiicial-for he was as big q schemer
among the lassies as he was knave among the
boys) there was not q black eye, either hid
den or paraded, that he could not give some
s,far tine Of R,,tC had to
grow up, as matter Of course; and his import
ance, growing with his growth and strengthen
ing with his strengthen it must be admitted
his very weaknesses we're his strength in that
lawless community; also, as matter of course,
climbing up jagged mountain peaks and assist
ing at fsticuffs would no longer suit the en-
larged views of my hero consequently, he
took to llicitly distilling his national beverage
in the daytime and poaching on the Lowland
manors by night; and the poachers' song,
"'Tis my delight of moonlight night
is ascribed to him very generally in that coun-
try to this day. / shall not take sides in the
discussion, however but content myself with
merely remarking, that if he did compose it, he
took very good care not to let any of the gov
ernment aids hear him sing it. This little mat
ter about the song is, Notwithstanding, to this
day as obstinately contended for him by the
Scotch, as is the authorship of the q Exile Of
Erin by the Irish, in opposition to the claim Of
Campbell, but with what relative degree of JUS
tice / cannot say. Well, whether Scrag, or
Scrog, or Scroggy-for hewas called every thing
but a fool-wrote the poacher's song or not, he
was not allowed very long time to acquaint
himself with the tune; for he was caught one
dark night upon a nobleman's manor by party
invited by that hospitable gentleman himself
expressly to entertain Scroggy, whose visit was
expected-nay, looked for with no small degree
of anxiety. He came, and the evening was
opened by ball, wherein the distinguished
guest danced pas-seut, and then sank exhausted
upon the ground. The wound did not prove
mortal one, as was at first apprehended, and
soon after the Government had the satisfaction
of transporting Mr.. Scroggy to Van Dieman's
Land. In the course Of the contention for the
authorship of the poacher's song, it has been
stated by his enemies that he was seized by q
disease that first binds the hands in an exceed
ingly odd and uncomfortable position behind the
back, and which advancing, the patient gives up
all hope and desires nothing so much as a white
night-cap, which is by immemorial usage drawn
quite over the face; the disease then fastens
upon the throat, and the unhappy being is
curried off by q "hempen fever" But this was
all vile SANDER in the case am speaking of
for If he was not carried off otherwise--that is,
transported to Van Dieman's Land, whence he
escaped to this country, permitting me the ac-
cident of being born an American citizen, and
scas hanged, as his enemies contend-all have
to add is, gentlemen, It's all the same thing to
me, for every patriotic American is careless to
trace his origin any further back than the
birthday of his nation. MIR. Scroggy bowed,
and resumed his seat amid the warm plaudits
of the Club