The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-12-29
OLD TIMES AND NEW.



Twas Ia my easy chair At bone,
About week ago,
sat and pufcd my light scgar
As usual, you must know.
| unused upon the Pilgrim flock
Whose luck it was to land
Upon almost the only rock
Amoug tie Plymouth sand
lu my minds eye l saw them leave
Their weather-beaten bark
Before them spread the wintry wilds,
Behind the ocean dark.
Alone that little handful stood,
While savage foes lurked nigh,
Their creed and watchword, q" Trust 10 Got
And keep your powder dry
Imagnation's pencil then
That FIRST storm winter painted,
When more than half their number lied
Aud stoutest spirits tainted.
A tear unbidden filled one eye.
My smoke had filled the other,
One sees strange sights at such a tlnis
Which. quite. the senses bother.
knew was alone-but To-
(Let him who dares, deride me-
I looked, and, drawing up chair,
Down sat a man beside me-
His dress was ancient, and his air
Was somewhat strange and foreign
lie civilly returned my stare,
And said I'm Richard Warren
You'll fnd my name among the list
Of hero, sage and martyr,
Who, in the May1ower's cabin, signed
The first New England charter.
could some curious facts impart--
Perhaps some wise suggestions-
But then, riu bent on seeing sights,
And running DER with questions"
GO 'sk on, said T. "I'll do ny be7t
10 give you information.
Whether Of private mon you ask,
Or our renowned nation.
says he, fir.t tell me what is tia,
In yon complrtment narrow,
Which seems to dry my eycballs up
And scorch my very marrow
Ills finger pointed to the CRATE
Said /, "That's Lehigh coal,
Dug from the earth he shook hi- heat
Il IS. upon my soul'
| then took up bit OF stick,
One end was black as night,
And rubbed i: quick across the hearth
Whom 10, sudden light
Ny guest drew back uprolled his eyes,
And strove his breath TO catch
What necromancy's that2 he cried
Quoth I, "a friction match"
Upon a pipe just overhead
turned little screw,
When forth, with instantaneous ilasu
Three streams Of lightning few.
Aloud be shouted, then
Is that hell-fre? " 'Iis ea-.' said /
We call it hydrogen"
Then forth into the field: We strolled
A train came laundering by,
Drawn by the snorting iron steed
SwifteT than eagles hy
Kumbled the w!eels, the whistle shriekei
Far streamed the smoky cloud,
Echoed the hills, the valleys shook
The dying forests bowed.
Down on his knees, his hands Uprai'ed
la worship, Warren fell
80 Great is the Lord our God, cried he
" lie'doeth all things we'll
I've seen chariots Of fire
The horsemen, too, Thereof;
-, may ne'er provoke his ire.
Nor at his threaterings scot
Rise uV, my friend, rise up" sad
Your terrors all are vain
ihat was no chariot Of the sky,
Twas the New York mail train.
We stood within a chamber small
Men came the news to know,
From Worcester, Springfield and New York
Texas and Mexico.
II cathe--it went--silent, but sure
He stared, smiled, burst out laughing;
What witchcrait's that "-"Its what We
Magnetic telegraphing."
uoce more we stepped into the street
said Warren, " What is that
Which moves along across the way
As softly "a cat;
| mean the thing upon two legs
With feathers on its head
! monstrous hump below its waist
Large rs feather bed;
- ma thS GUT - ttt'Ag HtaWf
But sure it can't be human
My amiable friend" said l,
d" That's what. we call woman"
" Eternal powers, it cannot be-
Sighed he, with voice that falterei
" l loved the women in my day,
But oh. they're strangely alte.
| showed him then a now machine
For turning eggs to chickens,
labor saving htnR0y
That beats tho very dickens
Thereat, he strongly grasped my hand
And said, "'Tis plain to see
This world is go transmogrifed,
Twill never do for me-"
Your telegraphs, your railroad trains.
Your gas lights, friction matches,
Your hump-backed women, rocks for coal,
Your thing which chickens hatches,
Have turned the earth so upside down,
No peace is left within it -
Then, whirling round upon his heel.
lie vanish ed in a minute.
Forthwith, my IN 9st veracious pen
Wrote down VIII MI had heard
And here, dressed u , in doggerel rhyme,
You have it, word for word.