POETRY

From the Hingham Gazette.

RUM

'Oh thou invisible spirit of Rum! if thou

hadst no name by which to know thee, we

would call thee- Devil.- Shakspeare [sic].

Let thy devotee extol thee,

And thy wond'rous virtues sum;

But the worst of names I'll call thee,

O, thou Hydra-monster, Rum!

Pimple-maker, visage bloated,

Health-corruptor, idler's mate;

Mischief-breeder, vice-promoter,

Credit-spoiler, devil's bait.

Almshouse-builder, pauper-maker,

Trust-betrayer, sorrow's ;source;

Pocket-emptier, Sabbath-breaker,

Conscience-stifler, guilt's recourse.

Nerve-enfeebler, system-shatterer,

Thirst-increaser, vagrant thief;

Cough-producer, treacherous flatterer,

Mud-bedauber, mock-relief.

Business-hinderer, spleen-instiller,

Woe-begetter, friendship's bane;

Anger-heater, Bridewell-filler,

Debt-involver, toper's chain.

Memory-drowner, honor-wrecker,

Judgment-warper, blue-faced quack;

Feud-beginner, rags-bedecker,

Strife-enkindler, fortune's wrack.

Summer's

cooler, winter's warmer,

Blood-polluter, specious snare;

Mob-collector, man-transformer,

Bond-undoer, gambler's fare.

Speech-bewraggler [sic], headlong-bringer,

Volume 1, tals-burner, deadly fire;

Riot-mover, firebrand-flinger,

Discord-kindler, misery's sire.

Sinews-robber, worth-depriver,

Strength-subduer, hideous foe;

Reason-thwarter, fraud-contriver,

Money-waster, nation's woe.

Volume 1, le-seducer, joy-dispeller,

Peace-disturber, blackguard guest;

Sloth-implanter, liver-sweller,

Brain-distracter, hateful pest.

Utterance-boggler, stench-emitter,

Strong man sprawler, fatal drop;

Tumult-raiser, venom-spitter,

Wrath-inspirer, coward's prop.

Pain-inflicter, eyes-inflamer,

Heart-corrupter, folly's nurse;

Secret-babbler, body-maimer,

Thrift-defeater, loathsome curse.

Wit-destroyer, joy-impairer,

Scandal-dealer, foulmouthed scourge;

Senses-blunter, youth-ensnarer,

Crime-inventer, ruin's verge.

Volume 1, rtue-blaster, base-deceiver,

Rage-displayer, sot's delight;

Noise-exciter, stomach-heaver,

Falsehood-spreader, scorpion's bite.

Quarrel-plotter, rage discharger,

Giant-conqueror, wasteful sway;

Chin-carbuncler, tongue-enlarger,

Malice-venter, death's broad way.

Tempest-scatterer, window's smasher,

Death-forerunner, hell's dire brink;

Ravenous murderer, wind-pipe-slasher,

Drunkard's

lodging, meat and drink.

U. U. B.