The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-29
MISCELLAN n E0 U s.
From the Dublin Nation.
DEAN SWIFT AND THE C0BBLER.

! lr happened lhal lhe Dean was ono uay
passing through Patrick, Close, when he
espied cobbler hard at work in his stall.
| Poor Crispin, though half naked, was sing
ing away like lark, and hammering a, the
hee, Of an old shoe with an appalen, light.
| ness OF hear, lha, aslonished the Dean when
he contemplated the merry wrelch's OBJ
vious misery.
Friend ~ said The Dean, pausins in his
walk a, The stall, and addressing him, "you
seem 10 be very poor; bu, then you seem
10 be very merry"
{" Its no, mirih, SIR" replied the co5blcr
-"I'm singin' for the children in the cellar
below"
How is ,halln asked the Dean 81
don't understand you"
"Why, SIR" said the man, whenever
The poor things are hungry, and have moth
ing 10 eat, ! sing droll songs for :hem, in
orler 10 make them forge, the hunger"
"Wha, family have you'll"
"No, many, sir-only twelve or,hirleen,
or so-bu, please God, there's good time
comm Nelly, sir, has her gifts-and, be-
tween you and me, is valuable subjec, 10
her Maes,y-as for myself, God help me,
Pm obliged 10 keep hammering away al
the leather as well rs | can-just us you
see me, sir, a, the heel Of this old shoe"
! And have you no prospect" asked The
Dean, "ot improving your condition in
| liie!n
"If there be such prospect, SIR" re-
piled the cobbler, al have not been able to
catch a glimpse Of i, yet; but ! suppose you
have heard the proverb Of our trade, sir
once a cobbler, always cobbler."
rhe proverb isa bad one," observed
the Dean, sand strikes ai the very root ol
industry"
"Il doesn't touch me at all even,s-ioI
as far as industry goes I'm pattern TO the
neighborhoCd; but, unfortunately, The hard
or work, the poorer get. However,. we
have one comfort, which is, that there's
better xorld before Us, and tina, we are pre-
pairing ourselves for it,"
I" How is iha,w asked The Dean.
"Why, sir, fasting ard prayer are The
best means OF working out our salvallon.-
It's true, indeed, we haven't time 10 pray
much, bu, we make it up in the iasiin'-
as for my own part, siuce cannot iasi ano
pray, ias, and sing"
"Oh, ho,n though, the Dean, "ihis is
character; mus, Try him little further
Wha, did you mean by saying, the harder
you work the poorer you ge'F' d,
No,hing's palmer sir; my family's
CROWN up, and the employment goes
down; YOU may understand me without
dictionary"
"Well, lhen,n said the Dean, "suppose
a friend were 10 enable YOU TO lay in
quantity o! leather, and all the necessary
materials for making shoes, let me ask
could you make ,hem!"
"Could Dane Swilt write ballad!-
'Ye people Of Ireland both country and city,
Come listen with patience, and hear on, my dltty
AT this time I'll choose To be wiser than witty
/ Which nobody cnn deny.
"God bless the Dean, at any rate BY
pYlin' down Wood aud his halfpence h,
+. saved me from bankruptcy; should hav,
: closed my stall only for him. But, ai,he
I all, he deprived me OF good berth Of it,
| "Whai benh" asked the other.
T "Why. sir, the post OF Solicitor. Genera
tina, had in my eye a, the time; but iaill
he stopped my promotion. However, divi
may care for ,hai-I can hammer the lea,h
~ eI tltll, " lllt NOlh WHY NOtuC III.
/ 'Thc halfpcnce are coming, the nations un
dong;
/, There's an end of your ploughing, your baking
; antIRcwing;
In short, YOU must all ~ To- wreck and To ruin
Which nobody can dcny.'n
The Dean began TO feel more than amusc
meni in his chat with the merry cobbler
j, and ailer some further conversation, he said
"Well, now, YOU comical rogue, do you
know Dean Swiil!"
"No, by person, sir; that's pleasur,
that's before me yet; bu, know him wei
by character"
+ "Wha, do you know ahou, himw aske
: the Dean.
"Why, that he's true friend TO lrelan
and her people, and al enemy TO all oppre,
y soTs.
u Both high men aud low men, aud thick inc
and tall men,
Aud rich men, aud poor men, and free mel
aud ihrall men,
1 VIII suffer aud this man, aud tha, man, am
, all men,
Which nobody can deny