Charity displayed, or the Good Man's Pumpkins:
A widow, plundered and distressed,*
Bereft of all that she possessed,
Devoid of power to provide
For three small children by her side,
Dwells in a small town, which is seen
On Raritan's smooth gliding stream.
Touched with the pity-moving scene,
Her sore distress and sorrow keen,
The neighbours round, as it should be,
Were blest with sweet humanity.
They with the poor could sympathize,
And hear the helpless widow's cries;
They each subscribed, or gave her something,
But hark the story of the Pumpkin.
Hard by a wealthy wight did dwell,
Who, when he heard it was not well
With this poor widow, but that she
Was left in wretched poverty;
And though she was no relation,
But of the same congregation,
Moved with compassion, gen'rous man!
Said he, "I will do all I can,
To aid this widow, whom I prize,
Though wicked men may her despise."
Then to his cellar did repair,
And when he had got down the stair,
* A poor widow in New-Brunswick, in an inclement season of the year was plundered by a party of British soldiers of every thing she possessed; and had three small children to provide for. A wealthy farmer from the country came to visit her, and in a very feeling manner sympathized with her, and promised when he came to town again he would not fail to afford her some aid. In a short time he came down, and gave her two small pumpkins, neither of which was quite sound, which was all she ever received from him.
On Pumpkins twain, of middle size,
This worthy man he fixed his eyes:
Said he, with these I mean to bless,
The widow and the fatherless;
With lib'ral mind I'll with them part,
To cheer and warm the widow's heart:
I've often to my neighbours said,
The virtuous poor should have our aid,
My precepts to example joined,
Will have more influence on the mind,
The aged and the youth inspire,
To catch the bright celestial fire."
Thus he resolved, and that same day,
Brought them down with him in his sleigh!
He with his pumpkins gave a blessing-
(An eastern blade would like such messing;)
And tho' they both were somewhat rotten,
I hope that part may be forgotten;
For it's alone the giver's heart,
Does value to the gift impart.
Dear man, I hope he long may thrive,
And thus to help the poor may strive,
And as I often have been told,
That those who give, will get fourfold,
I hope that this will, soon or late,
Be this good man's happy fate:
May his corn grow, all his hens hatch,
And thrive as may his pumpkin-patch:
May he in richess still increase,
Be blessed with pumpkins, ducks and geese;
I hope he long may live and shine,
And flourish like a Pumpkin-vine.
A Cooper's humble Petition to the Hooped Ladies.-
Written April 20, 1782, when Hoops were in fashior
Dear Ladies, I'll with your permission,
Present to you a short petition:
Ye brightest part of the creation,
Attend awhile to my relation:
My calling is a Cooper's trade,
I'm poor, though honest, it is said;
My business dull, I think it best,
In this petition to address
Ladies hooped, to you I write this,
Others are not worth my notice.
Me to employ should you think right,
You'll find me ready day and night:
I'm used, Ladies, to working
At hogshead, barrel, butter-firkin,
Not any thing that's hooped can be
Unwelcome or amiss to me.
Your mode of hooping I admire,
In gazing on it never tire;
It's the best fashion in the world,
For sails look best when they're unfurled
And Cynthia, beauteous queen of night,
When full's most pleasing to the sight.
Barrels unhooped are little worth,
Ladies without them seem uncouth;
But when you 're pleased your hoops to wear,
Of far more consequence appear;
I am so taken with the fashion,
In forming hoops I've great ambition;
My Adze, my Horse, my Drawing-knife,
Are all prepared, upon my life;
Should you employ your humble servant,
You'll find, dear Ladies, none more fervent;
Then I'll be ever bound to pray
For you, as I'm inclined this day.
On the 4th of July, 1789, there was an elegant bower erected in front of the White Hall tavern, in NewBrunswick. It was made with pine and cedar bushes: the front of the bower consisted of eleven handsome arches, emblematical of the states which had then accepted the new constitution. The following lines were printed on cards, and put over the arches of the states they were designed to represent:
Her active sons, a hardy race,
All friends to freedom will embrace.
Fell discord now no longer there is seen;*
The Arts now flourish, all is now serene;
A potent friend her sister states doth know;
The scourge of tyrants, Britain found her so.
All useful arts throughout this state are spread; And idleness ashamed to shew her head.
This state is honoured with the federal seat,t And anti-federals now must own they're beat.
When Howe had fairly done his best,
He said this was a hornet's nest.
This state in federal measures took the lead;
In war's alarms, for war her sons decreed.
In times which tried men's souls they firmly stood,
And nobly sealed their freedom with their blood.
* Alluding to Shayse's insurrection.
At that time the seat of Congress.
This little state, when in the darkest hour,
Threw in her mite, and did all in her power.
She can justly boast the birth
Of the greatest man on earth.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Although by Britons overrun,
Yet they could not subdue;
For when they thought their task near done, Then Greene* made them look blue.
This state in clouds of darkness lies,
Though in five months her sun will rise.†
This feeble state, distressed by savage band,
Her sister states should lend a helping hand.
On seeing a Fop pass the street.
What thing goes there? it looks as gay
As flowers that spring in rosy May;
In men's array-what sex, I wonder?
It looks as of the doubtful gender.
Such glitt'ring things do often please,
Like small change are passed off with ease-
But this will not my friends surprise,
For we oft sport with butterflies,
And like those insects of a day,
The flutt'ring Fop soon dies away.
* Alluding to General Greene.
This has reference to a convention which was to meet in five months from that time, in order to take into consideration the new constitution.
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