The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-02-19
5tGttttd Putttq


Old Times aud New.
We copy the following lines read at the Ne
Englan $ 'ciety's Festival at New York, Decen
Der %, 1876, by Allen G. Spooner, Of BOsto
from the Couricr
Twas in my easy chair at homo,
About week ago.
| sat and pulled my light cigar
As usual, you must know.
mussd upon the Pilgrim ao'k
Whose luck it was TO laud
Upon almost the only rock
Among the Plymouth sand.
In my minds eve saw them lea Q
Their weather beaten bark
Before them spread the wintry wildi,
Behind, rolled ocean dark.
Alone that little handful stood,
While savage foes lurked nigh,
Their creed and watchword, ''rrust in God,
And keep your powder dry"
Imagination pencil then
That first stern winter painted.
When more than half their number died
And stoutest spirits tainted.
A tear uubiddcn filled one eye
My smoke HAD filed the o'heri
One Gees strange sights a, such a time,
Which quite the senses bother.
knew ] was alcne -butlo!
(Let him who darcs, dcride me-
looked, and, drawing up a chair,
Down sat man beside me.
His dress was ancient, and his air
Was somewhat strarge and foreign
He oivilly returned my stare,
Aud said, "Im Richard Worreuw
"Youll find my name among the list
OF hero, sage, and martyr,
Who, in the MAYFLowERs cabin, signed
The first New England charter.
81 COULD some curious facts impart--
Perhaps, some wise suggestions
But then, I'm bent on seeing sights,
And running DER with questions"
"Ask on said I, 'I'n do my best
To give you Information,
Whether OF private men you ask,
Or our renowned nation"
Says he, "First tell ME what is that
In yon compartment narrow,
Which seems TO dry my eye-balls up,
And scorch my very marrow"
His finger pointed to the CRATE
Said l-"That's Lehigh coal,
Dug from the earth"--he shook his head
It's, upon my aoul!"
then took up bit ofstick,
One end was black as night,
And rubbed it quick across the hearth,
When 10, : sudden light
Ny guest drew back, uprellod his eyes,
And strOye his breath to catch
"What nccromancys that" he cried
Quoth |, "a friction match"
Upon pipe just overhead,
turned little screw,
When forth, with instantaneous fash,
Three streams Of lightning flew.
Up rose my guest-"Now heaven me save,''
Aloud he shouted, then,
'Is that hell fret" "'1is gas,O said l.
owe call it hydrogen"
Then forth Into the fields wo srolled,
train came laundering by
Drawn by the snoTting iron steed,
Swiiter than eagles Ay.
Rumbled the wheels, the whistle shrieked,
Far streamed the smoky cloud,
Echoed the hills, the valleys shook,
The flying forests bowed.
Down on his knees, with hands upraised
In worship, Warren fell
"Great is the Lord our Cod" cried he
'He doeth all things well.
"pve seen his chariots of fire,
The horseman, too, thereof,
o, may 'er provoke His ire.
Nor at His threatenings scott"
"Rise up, my friend, rise up" said /,
"Your torrors all are vain--
That was no chariot of the sky
"I'was the New Y ork mail train"
We stood within chamber small
Men came the news to know,
From Worcester, Springfield aud New York
Texas and Mexico.
II came--it went--silent but sure
He stared, smiled, burst Out laughingi
"What witehcraft's thatl" Its what we ca
Magnetic telegraphing.'
Once more we stepped ITO the street;
Said Warren, "What is that
Which moves along across the way
As sotly rs catl'
81 mean the thing upon two legs,
With feathers on its head
monstrous hump below its waist,
Large as a feather bed;
at has the gift Of speech, I HFGR,
But sure il can't be human9'
! "My amia5le friend" said /,
/ "Ihats what we call a woman"
External powers it cannot be-"
Sighed he, with voice that fallered;
"L loved the women in my day,
But, oh! they're strangely altered"
showed him then a new machine