SWEET AUBURN. SWEET Auburn! loveliest village of the plain, And parting Summer's lingering blooms delayed; Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease, Seats of my youth, when every sport could please! Where humble happiness endeared each scene! The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm, The never-failing brook, the busy mill, The decent church, that topp'd the neighbouring hill, When toil remitting lent its turn to play, And sleights of art and feats of strength went round; And still, as each repeated pleasure tired, The matron's glance, that would those looks reprove. These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these, THE SHOEMAKER. THE Shoemaker sat among wax and leather, Where, snug in his shop, he defied all weather, A happy old man was he. THE SHOEMAKER. The happy old man was so wise and knowing, He bristled his ends and he kept them going, Of every deed that his wax was sealing, The prick of his awl never caused a feeling Whenever you gave him a boot to measure, He took its proportions, with looks of pleasure, And many a one did he save from getting For many a foot did he save from wetting, When he had done with his making and mending, Resigning his awl, as his thread was ending, He passed from his bench, to the grave descending, As high as the king, to rest. HANNAH F. GOULD. G 81 LINES COMPOSED ON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, SEPT. 3, 1803. EARTH has not anything to show more fair; All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. WORDSWORTH. |