The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-05
Our Young Folks.
n TALE OF A COMET.

WE ", had seen the streaming meteors' light,
with their trails of fire, the autumn night,
ANA talked OF falling sxy-rocks hurled
from some long-since exploded world
VI comets trisking among the stars
with tails like fiery trains of cars;
ANA asked, should the reckless engineer
Or some rakish comet steer
crashing into our atmosphere,
How would the planets shell resist him?"
Inen we conyerSed of the solar system,
And lunar men;
And Doctor Ben
brought out his globe, ut half-past ten,
ANA leetured, giving conclusive reasons
f0r tides, eclipses, climes and seasons;
I'LL I'LL weary ut last. went to bed,
WIN tumble of wonderful things in my
head
Moons and comets and meteorites,
GLOBES and circles and polar nights;
And there lay thinking,
And drowsily winkng
AT something's ray-thro' my bed-curtains
blinking;
Too BRIGHT for star, and growing still
Making the moon-lighted chamber yet lighter,
winch very much astonished the writer!
gazed from the easement,
ana wondered, with ever-increasing amaze
ment,
What the look of alarm on the Moons frown-
ing face meant.
For there was the Moon, and, strange to saw.
There, too, was the Earth, Just over the way
Like the Doctors globe, or huge balloon,
GOttJ diiCS AuISOf, ptTutipS Iuuu IQc MOON,
All covered with circles, and looming in
space;
There were groups upon 1t, and every face
was turned one way; and very long-jointed
Telescopes at the sky were pointed:
And there, with terrible rushing and hum
ming
So long and so queer, and as it came nearer
It grew every moment longer and queerer!
Until made out such u comical chap,
In red-hannel coat with very long flap,
nose nnarin from n nln nOVN
HIS fingers in mittenS, his chin in a,wrap,
Like tourist prepared for very cold snap!
On, on he Sped through the regions of space
Win very short legs mt very long pace.
His well-filed knapsack dashed ON his back,
Extra shoes and canteen strapped under his
pack,
His coat-tail flying away on his track
Entangled far OFF in the Pleiades,
On the horns of the Bull and 0rion's knees.
On, on he came,
With nose like flame,
SO red was sure the fellow'd been drinking
(His canteen was empty, knew by the clink-
ing);
YAnd what can sober Comet be thinking
cried, mot to see there plain as the day,
The Earth, like target, hung right in his
way?'
The groups were beginning to hurry about,
And hustle and hustle and signal and shout,
And the Moon looked scared, while shrieked
out,
Dear sir, beg pardon, 1 don't know your
pray youI consider, and if it's the same
To you, here's u planet! 1 don't think you
knew it.;
But, sir, it will be
A great favor to me
And very large circle of friends, as YOU see
If you will drive round ii instead of right thro
it,!
He put up his head with stupefied stare,
And says he ~ declare!
No, wasn't aware!
And IN going at such deuce of a rate
I'd stop if could, but | fear it's too late!
Bless my stars! here ami" He had just time
When through it, head-foremost, he went at &
As circus rider dives through hoop!
With crash,
And a smash,
And a roar as of thunder,
1t quivered,
And shivered,
And flew aSunder;
The Moon, looking down, shed tragcal tears
While, winking hard and holding his ears,
The Comet came out on the other side,
Wheeled round, swore loud, and ruefuly EYED
The ruin; sneezed two or three times; ther
His long tail after him down the blue.
"Heavens and earthl what have done!
don't care the wink of star," said he,
" For all the damage done to me-
(Feelng his nose, and then with flirt
Carefully brushing away the dirt
From his coat and its stained and draggleC
skirt
"But look at this dear little, queer little
planeti
I've done the business for her, and van, it
Is quite too badl The fairest of creatures
How well remember her pleasant features,
The smile on her face and the light in her eye
When I've touched my hat to her, hurrying
by,
Many time, on my way through the sky!
I'd mend the poor thing if L could-and FL
tryl'
How he got it, or where,
/ cannot declare;
But thereupOn he drew up chair,
Hung his long coat-tail over the back,
Sat down by the pieces and opened his pack,
Brought forth from its depths stout needle
and thread
And there he sat squirting and scratching his
head,
As if rather doubtfully questioning whether
Twas possible ever to patch her tOQetherl