THE TWO STAMMERERS. While others fluent verse abuse, "How f-f-f-far may't be, "To-o"-the words would not come out"T-o Borough bridge, or thereabout?" Our clown took huff; thrice hemm'd upon't, Then smelt a kind of an affront; Thought he "This bluff, fool-hardy fellow, "A little crack'd perhaps, or mellow, "Knowing my tongue an inch too short, "Is come to fleer and make his sport. "If me he means, or dares deride, "But not for y-y-you-you knave!" Then to't they fell, in furious plight; While each one thought himself i' the right; And, if ye dare believe my song, They likewise thought each other wrong. The battle o'er-and somewhat cool Each half suspects himself a fool; For, when to choler folks incline 'em, Administer'd in dose terrific, Was ever held a grand specific! Each word the combatants now utter'd Conviction, brought that both dolts stutter'd, And each assumed a look as stupid As after combat looks Don Cupid; Each scratch'd his silly head, and thought, Hence I this moral shall deduce- THE SLAVE'S FIRST HOUR OF FREEDOM In a far isle, girt by the Indian wave, Brown autumn's pride succeed the summer's green; Change as they would, they found him still a slave, Toiling for gold to feed some master's pride, Who squander'd wealth his negro's blood supplied. Bow'd down by time, unfit for toil at last, As some tall plantain crush'd beneath the blast, The old man lay-each giant sinew shrunk, Like wither'd ivy round his ruin'd trunk. Though helpless, wretched, yet he wished to live; Old as he was, life had one boon to give. Tidings had reach'd him o'er the distant wave, Britain had granted freedom to each slave. He pray'd for strength to wait the time whose knell Slavery's doom and Freedom's birth should tell The dial's hand was near the promised hour, When, faintly strugling with death's iron power, "Father!" he cried, "before whose throne on high "Is heard the negro's prayer, the negro's sigh,— "Let me but live to draw one freeman's breath, "To own no master, ere I sink in death: "And every wrong, each stripe and galling chain, "Man has inflicted on our race for gain, "For that blest boon, by every hope of heaven, Rude and unletter'd, the poor dying slave But, ere his spirit fled its earthly clay, The dial struck. "I AM FREE !" the old man cried ; The first sweet breath of freedom was his last. SPEECH OF CATILINE BEFORE THE ROMAN SENATE, ON HEARING HIS SENTENCE OF Banished from Rome! what's banished, but set free I have within my heart's hot cells shut up, But here I stand and scoff you ;-here I fling Your Consul's merciful. For this all thanks: Or make the infant's sinew strong as steel. This day's the birth of sorrows! This hour's work Will breed proscriptions-Look to your hearths, my lords; For there henceforth shall sit, for household gods, Shapes hot from Tartarus !-all shames and crimes;Wan Treachery, with his thirsty dagger drawn ; Suspicion, poisoning his brother's cup; Naked Rebellion, with the torch and axe, SCENE FROM "SPEED THE PLOUGH." Sir Phil. Come hither. I believe you hold a farm of mine. Ash. Ees, zur, I do, at your zarvice, Sir Phil. I hope a profitable one? Ash. Zometimes it be, zur. But thic year, it be a' t'other way as twur-but I do hope, as our landlord have a tightish big lump of the good, they'll be zo kind. hearted as to take a little bit of the bad. Sir Phil. It is but reasonable. you are in my debt. I conclude, then Ash. Ees, zur, I be-at your zarvice. Ash. Sir, I do owe ye a hundred and fifty poundsat your zarvice. Sir Phil. Which you can't pay. Ash. Not a farthing, zur-at your zarvice. Sir Phil. Well, I am willing to give you every in. dulgence. Ash. Be you, zur? that be deadly kind.-Dear heart! it will make my auld dame quite young again, and don't think helping a poor man will do your honour's health any harm-I don't indeed, zur-I had a thought of speaking to your worship about it--but then thinks I, the gentleman, mayhap, be one of those that do like to do a good turn, and not to have a word zaid about it--zo, if you had not mentioned what I owed you, I am zure never should-should not, indeed, zur. Sir Phil. Nay, I will wholly acquit you of the debt, on condition Ash. Ees, zur. Sir Phil. On condition, I say, you instantly turn out that boy-that Henry. Ash. Turn out Henry! Ha, ha, ha! Excuse my tittering, zur; but you bees making your vun of I, zure. Sir Phil. I am not apt to trifle. Send him instantly from you, or take the consequences. |