Des Arc citizen., 1858-12-11
A LOVE LETTER.

The following poetical epistle was writ
 ten by the celebrated John TrumbuIl, au- thor of " McFingal,' in the year l772. The occasion of it is thus related:
 Trumbull and Thomas Wooster were fellow students in the office of Judge Matthew Griswold, father of Governor Roger Griswold, of Connecticut. Both of them were in the habit of visiting the family of the Hon. J. P. Cook. whose daughter Nancy was young lady of un- common beauty and accomplishments Wooster became extravagantly fond of her; but she conducted herself with the prudence and dignity becoming her sta ton, not manifesting parliality for him more than for others who visited the house. Al party at MT. Cooks one evening, Trumbull, who was always full of vivac- ity, observed to Nancy that Tom was so bashful that he could never muster cour- age enough to tell her how much he was in love with her, and therefore he in,en- ded to persuade him to address her by letter. Soon after TrumbuI wrote the following witty lines, and sent them 10 Nancy without the knowledge of Wooster; but as all concerned knew it was the pro- duction of Trumbull, none were offended and il became the subject of frequent inirlh at their subsequent family parties. It is supposed 10 have been published about the time il was written but the friend to whom we are indebted for our copy took lt some thirty five years ago from the old manuscript, ia the possession of u gentle man who studied law many years before in Judge Griswold's office, where it was found in a drawer Of the old table which had been occupied by Trumbull and Woos- ter.
 To thee, DEAR NANCY, thee, my swecting, Poor Colonel Thomas sendeth greeting, Whereas, so pleased the powers above, Pm fallen most desperately in love,
 For Cupid took a station sly,
 In one bright corner of your eye,
 And from his bow let fly a dart,
 Which missed my ribs and pierced my heart :: Pierced through and through, and passing further
 Put all my inside out of order.
 Nor this the only plague found; As mice into cheese will creep, Through some small scratch, and entering deep, While all without looks fair and well, They leave your cheese an empty shell: So thievlsh Love, when once got through, Stole and bore off my heart to you, | And left me HARMLESS, i'll at ease,
 An empty shell like foresaid cheese. l; Col. Tom, being in great smart, Beseech you to return my HEART;
 Or else to cure my coaselcss moan, Make an exchange, and send your own. Oh Nancy, thee love more fully, Than ever Hudbras loved TuIy;
 Not Eneas of old, nor Dido,
 Could love one half so much as do. hold my Nancy more goddess
 Than Venus gay, or Dian modest Throughout the world thy gories shine, Nor hath the sun such power thine;
 Thy beauty keeps the world together Thy looks make fair and cloudy weather; And if drought should come again, If you should frown know twould rain, For you, the earth produces flowers; For YOU, clouds drop in lovely showers; Fruits only grow that YOU may eat, And pigs and calves, to find YOU meat. Your cheering smiles, which we observe, Should YOU withdraw the world would starve {; Earth would refrain her wonted store, And plums and peaches be no more. Oh, Nancy would you love but me, How mighty glad poor Tom would be! Pa stick to you like pitch forever, Not chance nor fate our love should sever; Then love me Nancy, for l tell you am pretty clever fellow,
 And you may think 'tis true, for why? No one can tell so we'll as l.;
 Here follow then without objections, The " rent roll" of poor Toms perfections 1: Know then all woman-kind, that l,
 When stretched out straight, am six feet high; Whence from plain reasoning it appears, Pm one of Nature's grenadiers, Yet-l do whisper this between us-- Snryp only in inc of Vapua
 Pm fair, and one good sign observe is, have RED HAIR, Ma'am, at your service, or wit brag not, yet have brains l Enough to WALK IN--when 1t rains: l know the odds 'twixt cheese and chalk To tell handsaw from hawk:
 To cane a man, should he abuse me.
 And HANG myself, should you refuse me.