Rhode Island Republican

POETRY.

COMMUNICATION.

THE CLOWN'S MISTAKE.

As through the town one holiday,
A raw young Yankee took his way,
Mongst other things he chanc'd to spy
A tavern sign-post tow'ring high ;
The hungry clown quick took the hint
Sought the back-door, and in he went :
To see the fellow's awkward air,
Each cook and scullion gan to stare--
The wenches and the kitchen maids,
Contemptuously toss'd their heads,
They dropp'd their dishclouts, and began
To laugh at the poor countryman.
Hodge soon began to smell a rat,
And quickly putting on his hat,
He left the greasy regiment,
And straightway to the bar-room went
Where having come he looked up,
And saw against the wainscoat stuck up,
A sheet of paper gaily painted,
And with conspicuous capitals printed :
The countryman (who by the way
Did not lack curiosity)
Mounted a chair, and thus began
To read the paper-- "Gentlemen
And Ladies, now ye may improve
Your time and money, if ye love
To view those curious works of nature
For here is to be seen a creature,
As which there can't, for love or money,
Be seen another half so funny.
This wond'rous creature is an Ape,
That is in feature, size and shape
Like Bat, that more noble part, his mind,
So cultivated is and so refin'd,
That ev'ry man who e'er has seen it,
Swears there is nothing apish in it--
'Twould fill a volume to tell a half,
Or quarter of what he knows, and therefore,
We humbly pray ye, great and small,
To walk up stairs and see it all."
And now (as quick as I should find
A simile to suit my mind;
Were I a Poet) up he flew,
To see if what he'd read was true.
Hallooing, clappings, loud huzzas,
And bursting torrents of applause,
Soon met his ear; the mingled sound
He follow'd, and directly found
The chamber where the Ape was kept--
He paid his cash, and in he stept,
And mingled with the company.
Among the rest there chanc'd to be,
One of those well known curious creatures,
Of part man, and part monkey nature,
Call'd Fops --and by a small mistake,
That worse one than he might make,
The countryman no sooner saw him,
Than he began to stroke and paw him :
"I swouch," exclaimed the gaping lout,
"I think my money well laid out,
Gor! I can scarce believe my eyes,
Never saw like a man it is."
The beau, dumb with astonishment,
Had not yet giv'n his anger vent,
But now, his first surprise being o'er)
He rav'd and stamp'd, and curs'd and swore--
(Not for his handkerchief--Othello
In th' play, did louder bawl and bellow)
Roger turn'd pale, and quak'd with terror,
For he mistrusted now his error,
And looking round among the rabble,
He saw the Ape perch'd on a table ;
So cap in hand, he bow'd full low,
And thus address'd th' indignant beau--
"Master I humbly ax your pardon,
You'll take no 'fence I hope, for sartin,
Poor Roger never meant to 'front ye,
He only took ye for the monkey."

Bristol, Feb. 13.