The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-09-05
LINES


TO HER WHO WILL UNDERSTAND THEM.
'Tis said that the beautiful goddess, yclept by
the poets sweet Venus,
Had sort of half-girdle, half-bodice Il don't
half believe it, between us),
Which, if worn by herself or another, like
note drawn to A. B., or bearer"
No gazer his feelings could smother, but straight
fell in love with the wearer.
But - the advantage possesses; she scorns
even Venus's charms;
No girdle need circle her dresses, except per-
haps made of arms;
And if eer of 'that same you'd be wanting"
though to mention it makes me quite
nervous,
1 think l may say, without vaunting, Tue a
pretty good pair at your service. S. S.
"Here, then, was the production against
which my own was to be set. l didn't
feel disheartened, however On the con-
trary, felt rather pleased than otherwise,
that Sawbuck had done his first 1t gave
me the advantage, you see. l took a
sheet of paper, scratched my head, and
began. | was little puzzled how to
open up the subject but it struck me
that Sawbuck had put in something about
the goddesses, so concluded to show off
some of my Greek and Latin, too. AS /
had spent three years in studying them,
and they had never done me any good
yet thought might as we'll put them
to some service So, Immediately COM
menced, and in little more than five
hours produced the following
LINES
TO MISS NELLY JONES.
If Venus kept an album Il hardly think she
does,
For Homer says she wasn't cute, though Virgil
says she was),
And in it wrote the names of those most fit to
Of witchery around all hearts, first would be
lovely Nell.
If Juno kept list of those (whether she does
or not,
leave for poets to decide, and really think
they oughD
Whose looks her jealousy might rouse-the
cause | need not tell
The foremost on the scanty page would be my
lovely Nell.
If e'er make a catalogue Il think will some
day,
For loving girls by wholesale, l find will hardly
pay
Of those whose look, whose tone, touch, can
make my bosom swell,
The first, in staring capitals. I'll write, my lovely
NELL. s--'sa
| If l should ever conjugate I'm much afraid |
won't,
Though if you know the reason why, wish
you'd tell; dont)-
| Oh, happy, if my lady-love should suit me
half so well
As the loveliest, kindest, sweetest, most per-
| pulcherissiulo Nelll!!
| "Strike me, Squire, that is enough to
make Byron look to his laurels; and done
in five hours, too, and without gin and
water, as they say 'Childe Harold was
written!''
"Excellent!' exclaimed /. Excellent,
my dear Muggins. You were certainly
cut out for a poet!"
"Do you think so?'' said he, evidently
pleased with my enthusiasm. "Well, i
thought so, too! You see had displayed
my classical knowledge; made two more
verses than Sawbuck; did it in less time,
for l am confident that the fellow sat up
all night to write his; piled on the agony
splendidly; and wound up with Latin
adjective, sufficient in itself to crush the
conceit out of all the Sawbucks in exist
ence. And then the sentiment, tool
None of your, new-fangled ways of beat
. rnnn6 tho huc ch huf f,&1u
and square, and"
Eyes, yes" interrupted I. "It's all
very true; but what did Miss Nelly say?'
"Well, 1 copied it out on green leai
in the album; signed my name, Mulberry
Muggins; took my hat, and started fol
Mr.. Jones's. When 1 got there, whom
should l find in the parlor along with
Miss Nelly but that villain, Sawbuck? He
. and Miss Nelly were just starting to the
concert, to hear some celebrated singer
initiate locomotive whistle, or something
that way, believe. oh, Mr.. Muggins
are you done already?' said Miss Nelly
as | presented the album. We'll, I'm
sorry l haven't time to look at your verses
as we shall be late at the concert O.
course, didn't detain her, and they wen
out of the room, Sawbuck giving me {
look, as he passed, which made me trim
my nails next day, for fear I should b.
tempted to spoil his countenance mex
time we met. chatted awhile with Mis-
Nancy, Miss Nelly's younger sister, and
took my leave.
i, "But wasn't going to leave matters
in this state. determined to see Mis-
Nelly's actions when she saw the verses
which, you know, Squire, amounted al
most to declaration. The window
}, blinds had been left open, and the curtains
were drawn little apart, SO that, by put
! ting my head close to the window, coult
4 command view of the entire parlor
{ Acting upon this circumstance, walked
j about the streets in delicious state o
|, excitement until the concert was over.
remember hearing afterward that the 10
comotive imitation was failure. Mis-
Nelly and Sawbuck came home, and
standing in the shade of a tree on tht