Then parables (for well he knew
The book of sacred lore)

And, texts of scripture not a few,
He dealt out from his store,

One afternoon in Easter tide,
As was his pious way,

A sermon he would give, beside
The service of the day,

And preach he did with great applause
Right earnest was his aim
To make new converts to his cause
The devil's was the same.

The wily tempter's arch design,
As went the sermon on,
To disappoint the grave divine,
Will follow, sirs, anon.

Ere long their eyes the audience clos'd,
Unable to withstand

The drowsy pow'r-nay, Moses doz'd,
Tho' second in command.

No wonder they a nap should take:
Long sermons after dinner-
E'en Sherlock's scarce can keep awake
The most repentant sinner.

'Twas then a meagre mouse that spent, Like famish'd anchorite,

A tedious and abstemious lent,
Beheld a glorious sight.

A wig it was, well dredg'd and basted;
So rich an olio sure,

A mouse that had no victual tasted

For weeks, might well allure,

The very wig that Moses wore,
In honour of the day,

He saw, and when he heard him snore,
Thereon resolv'd to prey.

So forth with cautious tread he crept,
The reverend wig assail'd,

And while its owner soundly slept,
Luxuriously regal'd.

Now Satan some advantage gain'd,
His stratagem succeeded

His mouse the people entertain'd--
The preacher no one heeded.

Some laugh'd aloud-some forc'd a cough-
Some others blew their noses,
To scare the bold marauder off
The perriwig of Moses.

But vain was ev'ry art essay'd,

To make the robber flinch-
"The deuce is surely in the mouse,”
"He will not stir an inch!"

At length the vicar, forc'd to pause,
Enquir'd what was the matter,
Unable to divine the cause

Of such a din and clatter.

And starting round in wild amaze,
He last of all detected

The wig, which, focus-like, the

Of ev'ry eye collected.

rays

With eyes uplifted, hands outstretch'd,
His wonder he express'd;

And then a sullen groan he fetch'd,

To ease his lab'ring breast

"Why, Moses, Moses, man, a wake," Impatiently he cries;

"Thy wig, thy Sunday-wig's at stake!"-
"Amen!" the clerk replies.

The mouse, when sumptuously he'd fed,
As he was reconnoitring

Upon his tour round Moses' head,

And here and there stood loit'ring:

Let fall his tail on Moses' chin,
Which tickled him, no doubt,
Else maugre all the people's din,
He'd snor'd the sermon out-

Just then he started, and he chopp'd,
Nor made the chop in vain;
The mouse's pendant tail he lopp'd,
And bit a claw in twain..

TINKER AND GLAZIER.

HARRISON.

TWO thirsty souls met on a sultry day,
One glazier Dick, the other Tom the tinker;
Both with light purses, but with spirits gay,
And hard it were to name the sturdiest drinker.
Their ale they quaff'd;

And as they swigg'd the happy,

Tho' both agreed, 'tis said,

That trade was wond'rous dead,

They jok'd, sung, laugh'd,

And were completely happy.

The landlord's eye, bright as his sparkling ale,
Glisten'd to see them the brown pitcher hug,
For every jest, and song, and merry tale,

Had this blythe ending-" Bring us t'other mug!"
Now Dick the glazier feels his bosom burn
To do his friend, Tom Tinker, a good turn;—
And where the heart to friendship feels incliu'd,
Occasion seldom loiters long behind.

The kettle gaily singing on the fire,
Gives dick a hint just to his heart's desire;
And while to draw more ale the landlord goes,
Dick, in the ashes all the waterth. rows,

Then puts the kettle on the fire again,
And at the Tinker winks,

As" trade's success!" he drinks,

Nor doubts the wish'd success Tom will obtain.

Our landlord ne'er could such a toast withstand:
So, giving each kind customer a hand,
His friendship too display'd

And drank-"Success to trade!"

But, O, how pleasure vanish'd from his eye,
How long and rueful his round visage grew;
Soon as he saw the kettle's bottom fly,
Solder the only fluid he could view!

He rav'd, he caper'd, and he swore,

And curs'd the kettle bottom o'er and o'er.

"Come, come!" says Dick, "fetch us, my friend, more ale;

"All trades, you know, must.live:

"Let's drink-May trade with none of us ne'er fail!? "The job to Tom then give;

"And, for the ale he drinks, our lad of mettle, "Take my word for it, soon will mend your kettle." The landlord yields, but hopes 'tis no offence, To curse the trade that thrives at his expence. Tom undertakes the job, to work he goes, And just concludes it with the evening's close.

Souls so congenial, had friends Tom and Dick, They might be fairly call'd brother and brother; Thought Tom, to serve my friend I know a trick, "And one good turn deserves another!"

Out now he slyly slips,

But not a word he said;

The plot was in his head,

And off he nimbly trips.

Swift to a neighbouring church, his way he takes;

Nor, in the dark,

Misses his mark,

But every pane of glass he quickly breaks.

Back as he goes,

His bosom glows,

To think how great will be his friend Dick's joy
At getting so much excellent employ !

Return'd, he, beckoning, draws his friend aside,
Importance in his face;

And, to Dick's ear his mouth applied,

Thus briefly states the case

"Dick! I may give you joy, you're a made man, "I've done your business most complete, my friend; "I'm off! the devil catch me if he can,

“Each window in the church you've got to mend; "Ingratitude's worst curse on my head fall, "If for your sake, I've not broke them all!"

Tom, with surprize sees Dick turn pale,
Who deeply sighs" O, la!"
Then drops his under jaw,
And all his powers of utt'rance fail;

While horror in his ghastly face
And bursting eye-balls, Tom can trace,
Whose sympathetic muscles, just and true,
Share with the heart,

Dick's unknown smart,

And two such phizzes ne'er met mortal view.

At length, friend Dick his speech regain'd,
And soon the mystery explain'd-

"You have indeed my business done;
"And I, as well as you, must run;
"For, let me act the best I can,

"Tom! Tom! I am a ruin'd man.

"Zounds! zounds! this friedship is a foolish act, “ You did did not know with the parish I contract; "Your wish to serve me, then will cost me dear, " I always mend those windows by the year.”