Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-02
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
PHAETON.

Before Copernicus and others proved
The sun stood stil and Z was the Earth that
moved,
Was tho Suns coachman. This was long ago.
Across the sky from east To west all day
He drove, but took no passengers or pay.
A splendid team IL was; and there was none
But he could drive this chariot of the sun.
The world was safe so long ms in his hand
He held the reins and kept supreme command.
But Phoebus had wild, conceited son,
rash and lively youth, named Phaeton,
Who used 10 watch his father mount his car
And whirl through space like great shooting
And thought what fun t would be, could he
contrive
Some day to mount the car and take a drivel
The mischief OF It was, Apollo loved
The boy so well that once his heart was moved
TO promise him whatever he might ask.
He never thought how hard would be the task
10 keep his word; SO; one DAY, Phaeton
That is, myself-dear sir, excuse the pun
Twelve hours through space. You know you
promised once
Whatever might ask"
al was Ounce"
Apollo said "My foolish love for you,
fear, my son, that shall sadly rue.
Lend YOU my chariot? Mol really can't
Is MT there something else that can grant
Instead OF thisY A serious thing I would be
TO have my horses run away, you see.
You might bring ruin on the cart and sky,
And m responsible, you know-yes, i.
Try something else. Here s great wheel OF
The moon-a bicycle-almost as bright
AS my sun-chariot. Get astride of this,
And move your legs, and you'll enjoy bliss
As IL you rode like me in royal state.
No my dear boy-why, can't you understandY
dare not trust You NTH %y hc boS
Replied THAT thing is but an idle toy.
My genius is for horses, and long
To try my hand Mt yours. They're not 30
But can hold them. know all their tricks.
Father, you swore it by the River styx-
You can't retract. Besides you need Mt fear,
You'll see / am skillful charioteer
I've taken lessons of n man OF worth
A frst-ratc driver down there on the Garth"
~ Sec" said Phoebus, 'that can { go back
Upon my promise. Well, then, clear the ira ok!
So Phaeton leaped up and grasped the reins.
His anxious father took n deal of pains
TO teach him how to hold thcm-how TO keep
The broad highway-how dangerous and steep
II was; and how to avoid the moon and stars,
Keep clear of Jupiter, the Earth and Mars
And dodge the asteroids and comets red;
Follow the zodiac turnpike, straight ahead,
Though clouds and thunder-storms should
round him spread.
Two hours pcrhaps-his fortune seemed to
smile;
When huge meteor, whizzng through the
Alarmed the horses, who began TO shy,
And shake their fiery names; then plunged
and reared
And whirling him zigzag downward, till they
nearcd
The Earth A connagration spread below,
And everything seemed burning up like tow
In tho Suns flames. Then Jupiter looked
down
And saw the Earth, like toast all turning
brown,
And threw blazing thunder-bolt tbut wait
Here I'm parenthesis I'd like TO state
This may have been telegram; for then
Lightning dispatches were not known to men,
But only used by heather gods which struck
The youth; and by the greatest piece Of luck
Prevented further loss.
This tale they told
In oldcn times. II might be so bold
As TO suggest an explanation here
OF phenomenon by no means clear
I'd say those spots NJ on the Suns rcd face
Were bruises that he got in that mad race.
@. Il. Crdnch, in 81. Nicholas,