Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-10-24
SHEPHERDSTOWN w. VA, FRIDAY OCTOBER "a 1890

The pranks he played throughout the
town
The good folks said were devilish.
At last, the imp naught could escape,
By crime akin TO arson
Blew up before the town agape
The parish gig and parson!
This proved, alas! the single straw
That wrought the camels ruin
The burghers swore, if there was law,
The pillory he should rue in.
There is homely adage where
'Tis said, with foresight winning,
You first must surely catch the hare,
Before you do the skinning.
Ere justice could the criminal claim
Talarian flight had barred
Mysteriously as he came,
The boy had disappeared!
When just beyond the town, twas
said,
On the hill he seemed to linger
One moment brief then raised his
head
And threatening shook his finger.
The hills grew green, the hills grew
brown,
Time sped by right and reason;
The boats went up, the boats went
In calm or stormy season.
AS Dame Croft swept the tap-room
floor,
And brushed the trash together,
A stranger stopped before the door
And it was in autumn weather.
He looked up at the swinging sign
The bowl and silver tankard-
Along the rivers water line
To where the boats were anchored.
Then up the street-'twas just the
same,
But then it little mattered--
And, turning to the winsome dame
With smile that pleased and flat
tered,
Asked if the bowl and tankard still
Flowed with their wonted pleasurey
"Yes, he would lodge and by her will
A tankard's flowing measure.
Whilom the stranger proved u guest
No query could unravel;
Though woman's wit tried every test,
He still remained a marvel.
Each woodland path he seemed to
know,
And stream, by intuition
Van Swearingen's spring, its ebb and
flow,
The cause, and old tradition. :
The curious dame more eager grew,
And all restraint surmounted,
When near a stand the stranger drew
And there his money counted.
In monotone of sharps and flats
Said, filling two old mittens,
Fifty cents for full grown cats
And twenty five for kittens ~
"St. Martin, book and candle bring
The devil has enriched him;
Lettering by Van Swearingen's spring
The pixies have bewitched him"
Long and loud old Herr Croft laugh
To rare diversion debtor
"Mein Gott,n he cried, "the man is
Mein own good frau no peter !"
Major Gratis (such was his name)
Most earnestly assured them
Five hundred cats he must obtain
If money could procure thin.
"Perchance his host said Major
Gratis,
Those evil days recalled
When Mecklenburg o'erran with rats,
And the bravest stood appalled,"
Like Mecklenburg, the town OF A,
Beleagured and infested,
Would to the vermin fall prey
IL they were not arrested"
And he, the worthy Major Gratis,
Would pay from out these mittens
Fifty cents for full grown cats
And twenty-five for kittens" p"
ST. Martins day, at twelve by grace
He wished it known distinctly
He'd meet them in the market place,
And thank them all succinctly.
After which, he, said Dempsy Gratis,
Would pay from these same nit
tens
Fifty cents for full grown cats
And twenty-five for kittens"
His gundolo was on its way
Adown the ''murmuring river"
And all who wished without delay
Could then their cats deliver!
The news from town to country flew
With every household conner;
And Crats's proclamation grew
The theme of Indian Summer.