The Rhode Island Republican

[From the N. E. Galaxy of 1830.]

THE DEVIL IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

"O'er land and sea his charter'd spirit passed."

The devil came up one afternoon
In the streets of this goodly city;
Said he, "though I've liv'd in the place full long!
And in it have proselytes plenty and strong
I never have selected amongst the throng
A minister—more's the pity!

There's a vacant seat in my cabinet now
A gap in my administration;
But here my subordinate ranks are so full,
So just are the claims of a numerous school
'Twill be hard to select the worthiest tool
For this important station."

Then the devil he gathered his tail around,
And roll'd up his scarlet eye;
Thought he, I'll take my chance for a man
In sober walk, and closely scan
The various claimants who may suit my plan—
Said the devil. "I can but try."

So Mephistopheles turn'd "on change"
Till he saw a noted miser:
Said he, "this spindle-shanked rascal would screw
From the desolate widow her dollars few,
And consign her children to brothel or stew—
But I want a scoundrel wiser."

Then he walked a little further on,
Till he met a debauchee;
And the devil look'd in his face with a grin—
Thought he, original talent must win
A place in my cabinet—now this thin
Old lecher has nought but—original sin!
He never will do for me.

The next who came was a man of name
A sturdy, slow cashier;
"Ah ha!" cried Diabolus, "he's no fool,
A glorious fellow who lies by rule,
And says 'no money'—but out of school
Can find some at twelve per cent—yet a tool
Of masters twelve, I fear."

So he walked up Washington street and saw
A favorite ton-ish lady;
Said the devil, "here's a disciple true,
Who would steal a stocking, a veil or a shoe,
Tell lies of her neighbor, and swear thereto—
But petticoat ministers never will do—
The American cabinet's all in a stew
About a woman already!"

Then the devil met with a popular priest
And shouted for very joy;
For he knew him to be a diplomatist keen,
Who could one thing say, and another thing mean.
Talk of this vanishing, temporal scene,
Tipple and riot behind the screen—
Thought the devil he cannot be spared when
I KNOW IN MY EMPLOY!

Next Diabolus went to the theatre,
To look at Mr. Finn;
But he cried for very spite to see
The talented Mawworm make so free
With his favorite subjects—"curse him," said he,
"If Finn were not so honest, he'd be
The very fellow to represent me
In the cabinet council of Sin."

Mephistopheles rolled his eyes around
And they fell upon an editor;
When he gathered himself hastily up his tail.
And his sheet-iron countenance turned quite pale,
And he left the house with a dreadful wail—
"Twas the author of many a scandalous tale
Said the devil, "he's no captor!"

His majesty walk'd down Court-street next
With the stride of a baffled giant;
Gaz'd at the lawyers' signs with a smile,
Thought he, if a limb can be found whose style
Of dealing would not the devil defile,
I'll take him—however, I'll chat awhile,
With each and every client.

But soon Diabolus issued forth
With a countenance fallen and pale;
While the molten lead from his eye-lids stream'd
And the devil with bodily anguish screamed,
For the lawyers, piece by piece, it seemed,
HAD STOLEN THE WHOLE OF HIS TAIL!

But his red eye gleamed with a hellish blaze
At the very next man he saw:
'Twas one who having obtained his end.
Betrayed, deserted and ruined his friend,—
But left him a portion of cash to spend
In the pleasant pursuit of law!

Mephistopheles threw on this Judas
A glance of friendship sinister;
Said he, "the rascal who coolly betrays
The friend who assisted him all his days,
I'll take—for he will make, as Shakspeare says,
A 'Flaming Minister!'"