Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-08-05
For the Spectator.
THE PINeHING BUG.
LITTER Roe.)
LITTER Poe.

,morously inscribed to Maj. Sterrett, Of River.
side,)
BY DR.. SOCKS.
Once, upon q midnight dreary,
While pondered, worn and weary,
Over many quaint and curious
Bug that had seen of yore;
While lay there nearly sleeping,
Through my half closed eyelids peeping,
Suddenly l saw one creeping,
Creeping on my chamber floor.
"Tis Pinching Bugp' 1 muttered,
Wonder if there's any more?"
Ali distinctly, I remember
Twas in August-(not December,)
And I ouaked in every member,
AS / gazed upon the foe;
Eagerly / wished for morningl
Vainly tried to speed its dawningl
Surely he will give me warning
Warning ere he grabs my toe;
I'm murdered manr' / muttered,
up the spout I'm bound to CO."
Then his steps-no sound uncertain
Rafting the purple paper curtain
Thrilled me-flled me with fantastic
Terrors never felt before;
So that now to still the beating
Of my heart, I tucked the sheeting
Words of vengeance by the score,
Hoped to see him soon retreatlng-
Only hoped, and nothing more.
From the curtain now advancing,
All my terrors still enhancing,
Soon saw him prancing, dancing
Horrid horn-pipes on the floor;
Surely. thought l, now he'll nab mel
What if those great claws should grab me!
What if his keen blade should stab me!
Spill my blood from pore to pore;
And the maid who tend the chamber,
Finds me weltering in my gore.
Presently my pluck grew stronger.
And my breath little longer,
ssSir," said I, or madame, truly,
You or I must take the floor;
For. in fact, there is no mapping,
With your wings around me Tapping,
Soon nv veins you will be tapping.
And my blood you will be tapping;
Therefore. (as remarked before,)
You or must Vacate-sure.
All myrsoul within me burning,
Hurriedly the sheet upturning,
-bravely-danger spurning-
Out I leaped upon the floor.
"Courage I" said I, ''soon pll find him.
Cautiously I'll creep behind him,
And with one stout stroke so blind him.
That he'll see the light no more;
That his blood-shot bleared and blinking
Eyes shall see the light no more"
Open here flung the shutter,
When with sudden firt and flutter,
On the wing the hoary humbug,
Round the room began to soar.
Not the best of steering made he,
Not moment stopped or stayed he,
But with headlong haste his head he
Butted 'gainst my chamber door
Fairly, SQUARED with a heavy
Thud'' he fell upon the floor.
"Listl" said I. thou thing of evil,
Be thou bug, or be thou devil,
You shall find my head is level;
Now your days are numbered-sure:
Better thee your viii be writingl
Sirl your prospects amt inviting,
Soon, ali, soon, you will be biting
Dust upon my chamber floor
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,"
Quoth the vampyre-'N evermore ?'
Once again his feathers futtered,
As he scarcely more than muttered:
"Other bugs have gone before'
bug or fend 1" I shrieked upstarting,
BE that word our sign of parting,
Close your eyes-'tis time you're starting
For the Nights Plutonian shore,
w mere my cory. SudSLly CARCASS
Shall be hid forevermore."
Hesitating then no longer
All my muscles grew the stronger,
Sir" said 1, 'or Madam, truly
Your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I must kill you'll
Turn your eyes up this way, will you?
That with torments [ may fill you,
Ere you leave this mundane shore,
For that dark and distant Hades,
Where you'll pinch and scratch no more
Thus upon that midnight dreary,
While / stood there faint and weary.
With this gaunt and curious combat
Combat never fought before;
Suddenly | chased and catched him,
With my boot slightly mashed him,
And with force and fury dashed him.
Headlong through my chamber door;
Dashed his mashed and mangled carcass
On the nights Plutonian shore;
Then creeping back to bed, I muttered,
wonder if there's any more"
IG OWL, August, 1873.