The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-11-20
REMARKABLE POEM ON HEREDaTY.
President Cieyelamd's Grandfather on
the Controlling Influence of Family
RAO0O.

lThe following poem was written by the Rev
Aaron Cleveland of Norwich, Conn, grand
father of President Cleveland. The copy from
which we publish is furnished by j. L. Clevc
land of O%neonta.1
Four kinds of blood flow in my veins
And govern each in turn my BRAINS:
From Cleveland, Porter, Sewell, Waters,
l had my blood distinct in quarters.
My parents parents names know,
But / no further back can go.
Compound 81 compound from the flood
Forms now my own ancestral blood,
But what my sires of old time We're
neither wish 10 know nor care.
some might be wise, and others fools;
Some might be tyrants, others tools;
Some might be rich, and others lack
Some might be white, and others black.
No matter what in days of yore,
Since they are known and sung no more.
The name of Cleveland I must wear.
Which some poor founding first might bear
Porter, I'm told, from Scotland came.
A bonny bard Of ancient fame.
sewell, an English derivation,
Perhaps some outcast from the nation.
Waters, an %Irisinnan, l ween,
straight round about from Aberdeen.
SIcil Is my heterogeneous biopl-
\ motley mixture, bad and good.
Each blood aspires to rule alone,
And each in turn ascends the throne
And rules till others tear him down.
Each change must twist about my brains
And move my tongue in different strains;
Ny mental powers are captive led,
As whiin or wisdom rules the head.
MY character no one can know,
For none 1 have while things are so;
I'm something. nothing, wise or fool,
As suits the blood which haps to rule.
when Cleveland reigns I'm thought a wit,
In making words, the fanny hit,
In social glee and humorous song
| charm the fools that round me throng:
But soon, perhaps, thisblood is down.
When Porter next may wear the crown.
Now al is calm, discreet and wise.
Whate'er l do, whate'er advise.
But soon. alas! this happy reign
Must for some other change again.
seweIl, perhaps, may next bear rule:
I'm then a philosophic fool.
With Jefferson | correspond
And soar with him the stars beyond,
While every fibre of the brain
To sense profound l nicely strain,
And then arise beyond the ken
OF omfno sense and common men.
But who comes next? Alas. lis Waters,
Rushing fearless to headquarters.
He knows no manners nor decorum,
But elbows headlong to the foram,
Uncouth and odd. abrupt and bold,
Untaught, unteachable, and uncontrolled.
Devoid OF wisdom, sense or wit,
Not one thing right he ever hit,
Unless by accident, not skill,
lie Numbered right against his will:
such am / now-no transmigration
Can sink me to a lower station.
Come, Porter, come depose this clown,
And once for all assume the crown.
Taught in SeweIl's blood you find
viii make your own still more refined.
If found in Cleveland's blood a trait
To aid you in the affairs of state,
Select such parts, but spurn the rest,
Never TO rule my brain or breast.
OF Waters blood cNpel the whole,
Let not one drop pollute my soul,
Then rule MY head, then rule my heart,
from folly. weakness, wit apart:
With all such qualities I'll dispense,
And only give me common sense.
-Oaeo7aa Herd{d.