Daily Richmond Whig

From the N. E. Galaxy and Mercury.

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 lived 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 soul
For this important station."

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

So Mephistopheles stood on 'change,
Til 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 looked 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 the.

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 hugs the rule
Of tax
no money--but out of school
twelve per cent--yet a tool
Of masters twelve, I fear."

So he walked up Washington street--and saw
A favorite tonish 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 I ween.
He's now 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 full hastily up his tail,
And his sheet-iron countenance turned quite pale,
And he left the house with a dreadful wail--
'Tis the author of many a scandalous tale--
Said the devil, "he's my creditor."

His majesty walk'd down Court street next,
With the stride of a bald 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 countenance sullen 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!"