The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-30
"THD GOOSE"
OR "NATuRE AND PHILOSOPHY. -

Poor Friar Philip lost his wife,
The charm and comfort of his life,
He mourned her not like modern men,
For ladies were worth having then.
The world was altered in his view,
All things put on yellow hue;
Even ladies. once his chief delight,
Were now offensive to his sight;
In short he pinned and looked 80 i'll,
The doctor hoped to get bill.
At last he made VOW to fly,
And hide himself from every eye,
Take up his lodging in wood,
To turn hermit and grow good.
He had child now, you must know,
About a twelve month old or so;
Him Philip took up in his arms,
To snatch him from all female charms,
Intending he should never know
There were such things as girls below;
But lead an honest hermit's life.
"For," said he, she might lose his wife,
The place he chose for his retreat,
Was once lions country seat.
Far in wild romantic wood,
The hermit's little cottage stood,
Hid by trees from human view,
The sun himself could scarce get through.
A little garden titled with care,
Supplied them with their daily fare;
Fresh water crosses from the spring,
Turnips and greens, or some such thing,
Hermits don't care much what they eat,
And appetite can make it sweet.
Twas here our little hermit grew;
His father taught him all he knew,
Adapting, like careful sage,
His lessons to the pupils sge.
At five years old he showed him flowers,
Taught him their various names and powers
Then talked of lions, wolves, and bears,
Things children hear with all their ears,
Taught him to blow upon reed,
To say his prayers and get the creed.
At ten he lectured him on herbs,
Better than learning nouns and verbs
The names and qualities of trees,
Manners and customs of the bees,
Then talked of oysters full of pearls;
But not word about the girls.
At fifteen years he turned his eyes,
To view the wonders of the skies,
Called all the stars by names,
As you would call on John or James;
And showed him all the things above.
But not whisper about love.
And now his sixteenth year was nigh,
And yet be had not learned to sigh;
Had sleep and appetite to spare:
He could not tell the name of care;
And all because he did not know
There were such things as girls below.
But now tempest ragged around,
The hermit's little nest was drowned;
Goodbye, then, to poor Philips crop,
1t did not leave tnrnip top.
Poor Philip grieved, and his son too,
They prayed, they knew not what to do.
| If they were hermits they must live,
And wolves have not much aims to give.
Now in his native town he knew,
He bad disciples, rich ones too,
| Who would not let him beg in vain,
But set the hermit up again.
| But what to do with his young son,
| Pray tell me what would you have done?
Take him to town, he was afraid;
For what if he should see maid7
In love as sure as he had eyes,
| Then any quantity of signs.
Leave him at home, the wolvesl the bears!
Poor Philip had fathers fears.
In short he knew not what to do,
| But thought at last to take him too
| And so with truly Plus care,
He makes a good long. winded prayer,
| Intended as sort of charm,
To keep his darling lad from harm,
| That is from pretty ladies' wlles,
| Especially their eyes and smiles,
| Then brushed his coat of silver gray,
| And then you see them on their way;
1t was town, they all agree,
| Where there was every thing to see;
As paintings, statues, and so on,
All that men loved to look upon.
| Our little lad, you may suppose
Had never seen 80 many shows.
He stands, with open mouth and eyes,
Like one just fallen from the skies,
Pointing at every thing he sees:
whats this? what's that?
Oh here what's these"
At last he sees charming thing,
That men call angel when they sing.
Young ladies when they speak in prose,
Sweet thing as everybody knowsI
Transported, ravished at the sight,
He feels strange but sweet delight
"What's this2 what's this? heavens,
he cries,
''That looks so sweetly with its eyes?
O shall catch it? is it tame?
What is it father? what's its name?'
Poor Philip knew not what to say,
But tried to turn his eyes away:
He crossed himself, and made VOW;
"'Tis as feared, all's over nowr'
Then "Prithee, have thy wits let loose,
1t is bird men call Goose"
"a goosel pretty, pretty thing!
And will it sing too2 will it sing?
o come, come quickly, let us run;
That's good father, catch me one!
Well take it with US to our cell,
Indeed, indeed, I'll treat it we'll.