The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-08-04
HCOrncr KCtCh.o
CANTO I.

] I'M about to write know not what
A History, or it may be but n sketch,
tale or legend of that far-famci spot
Which. century gone, como rntutorrd wretch,
Whose name much regret. has been forgot,
Gave that cuphonions title Corner Kelch,"
And so from sire 70 sun the name came down,
Till Corner Ke,ch' has grown into renown.
Twas seventeen hundred, seventy -six-year
Great in history Of our mighty nation
One which the patriotic all hold dear,
For then was made the glorious Declaration"
That charter of the free which tyrants fear
And which has proved Columbia salvation;
Their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor,
(B,tter than all tho blood of all the ConnorsD
They pledged for liberty, and SO they won her.
Twas in that year, if | the tale remember,
A solitary hut, or house, was built
OF rough logs chinkd with mud, so that November
(The roof was thatchdD with her snow spread
quilt
Or chilling blasts, could touch no glowing cmbcr,
Of the huge fire-at that da v woods grew thick
Now one can scarcely find single stick
The first house built in lower W est Nottingham,
>
quiet man; quiet and SO calm,
That tho his worldly store did not increase
lie was content; yet now right sure am,
With half the world, men do not dwell ut ease;
Give me the pie Of little johnny lIurncr,"
Or, rustic ease of simple fctcr Corner,
But Time; or Chance or tickle Fortune drove
Our quiet friend away, and would fain
Nhprp hp Wenfo nd W hen he Ia rove
lie, unlike MONSIEUR Tohson--comc again."
Returned no more. ard this hut goes to prove,
The story that I'll tell viii not 'sretch''-
Of how it won tho name of"Corncr ketch."
In seventeen hundred and eighty -onc-now
may err II year; but to my queer tale:
One drcar December night can't think how
1t could have been, unless it was strong ale
While adding shelter for his only cow
And standing in the storm of snow and hail.
lie disappeared 50 said his guest that eve,
W o, as Corner lived alone, must believe,
said strong ale, "a oft it has might do it,
But then our friend no spirit e'er imbibed,
AZ many freely do at6i after rue it,
Ills gnest-whom we have never yet dcscrib ed
Who met the storm, and fearing to so through 1t,
Whom asked To stop, required not to be bribrd
Shelter it was, and well the stranger knew it,
lie was n jolly Mhiskcy loving sinner,
With just enough of brains to eat his dinner.
With full belief in COLLINS, ghosts and witches,
lie feared spirit, would the devil,
And Jack Lantern crossing boys and bitches
Was the due source Of every night time evil
And yet, the spirit hid within his brooches
Tockct-his mint mud. n nt: THERE hc coull rcv,I
And far from afraid; he grew quite brave,
And lived, its ever consta ant willing slave
While standing in the door and Corner near by,
lcaping the brushwood y.t his COW pen DER,
The stranger said he saw n light on high,
And stepping suddenly within the door,
A laundering big witch flew down rom the ky
hETcHEn Corner up-hc ne'cr was heard of more
The tale went out, to bring what it would fetch,
And so 1t won the name of corner Kctch.'
But let us stop awhile. to rest ns here
lfyou wish not, lin sure want to,
And then you've tired, very much fear.
so, though too like the Castle Of Oranto,
To be believcd-yet really I'm sincere
10 say that must close this my first Canto
Promising to do better in my second,
Hoping without my host have not rcckoncd.
"OLvER GoLpsMlTu."
PINE FOREST, July o5th, 1855.