Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Of Lincoln's sword more ills does Fame report,
Than of the wolves, and storms, and frosts, and
county court.
TIPPLE.
Cease to contend—so well, so long you sing,
You must be dry—and I too, want a fling.
But hark! what noise is this insults my ear,
Which strikes my trembling soul with rebel fear,
A troop of Lincoln's Horse!—in yonder field!
Lord!—run!—run!—run! or we shall all be
kill'd

Two young Insurgents (where the sign-post
high
Stands at the road, and speaks the tavern by)
Agreed to try, by song, which most could praise
Rebellion's influence, and the name of Shays.
With umpire Tipple seated by their side,
Thus Jedediah spoke, and Jonas thus replied:
JEDEDIAH.
Hear how the whirling winds around us blow!
And see the country buried deep in snow!
Why shall we joyless doze away our time?
Come! let's begin and waste the morn in rhyme.
JONAS.
Of Shays and liberty, then let us try—
I'll wage you cannot sing so well as I.
JEDEDIAH.
Ho! that's a pity! thou shalt judge, and see—
Oh! cousin Tipple,—and the umpire be.
TIPPLE.
Make haste, my boys—I'll judge of what you
For see! 'tis unfair, and I want a fling.
JONAS.
See this jug bottle, once my joy and pride,
With all these curious letters on its side;
Once it was often filled!—Now, by my heart,
I'll bet this bottle, and it holds a quart;
I'll wage my mare—bring you an equal stake—
JEDEDIAH.
—That should be seen, if I had one to make.
Father, and I, and all hands labour sore,
And hope in time to pay the tavern score.
We've four years grievous taxes yet to pay;
An hundred mugs of flip to wipe away;
But since you will be mad, and wage—here, take
This great tobacco-box—'tis all I stake.
JONAS.
Give us but rum, our pleasure and our pride,
A rebel cares not how the world may slide.
Though all our evils overspread the land,
And vengeful justice should our wiles withstand,
Unawed by law, and uncontrolled by sense,
Nobly we join to drive the vagrant hence.
JEDEDIAH.
What is Rebellion?—grievances redressed,
'Tis Policy most advantage dressed—
Sheriffs and duns could ne'er but conscience fret.
We clamour rather at the public debt:
Or like a bull to belch—we grieve and groan
For public interest, and mean our own.
JONAS.
Still firm and steady let each rebel stand,
Nor dread the weight of Justice' heavy hand;
Secure from brother Shattuck's iron box,
From whipping posts, and pillories and stocks:
See from all counties hosts of Rebels spring!
Hear through the ranks the martial music ring
In cause so great let ev'ry county raise,
Her fresh supplies and aid our Gen'ral Shays.
JEDEDIAH.
A little tumult is a dangerous thing,
Drink deep, or taste not of Sedition's spring,
There mobbing draughts but gently turn the
brain,
And bold Rebellion sobers us again,
Fired at the name of Shays and war's alarms,
Fierce in the cause, we tempt the heights of arms,
While from the level of our narrow mind,
Short views we take, nor see the length behind;
But more advanced, behold with strange surprise
New scenes of tumult and sedition rise!
So when at first Wachusett-hill we try,
Mount o'er the vales and seem to tread the sky,
One part attained, we tremble to survey
The growing labours of the crooked way;
Th'increasing prospect cheats our wand'ring eyes,
For till Wachusett on Wachusett rise,
JONAS.
Where carrion lies, the hungry crows abound,
Where plunder is, insurgents will be found,
From laziness what cheerful pleasures come!
Sweet of a morning is New-England Rum!
In all these blessed gifts no sweets there be,
For dearer than the whole is Shays to me.
JEDEDIAH.
I'll weave a garland for my darling Shays,
I'll twigs of hemlock and of dogwood raise:
There the green bough of Rebels shall be seen
With sprigs of Hemp and Devil's-weed between,
JONAS.
The mighty wolf is baneful to the sheep;
Storms in the spring will make the farmer weep;
The lagging frosts to blossoms prove unkind,
And county courts disturb a debtor's mind: