The Hillsborough Recorder

THE TEARS OF SCIENCE.

At the seat of instruction, where once she was
bless'd,
Fair Science sat mourning, with sadness oppress'd:
Her maps and her volumes lay scatter'd around;
Her globes all in fragments were strew'd on the ground:
There lay in rude tatters the relics of sense,
The waste and destruction of genius immense.
She wept, shook her head, and with anguish began-
"Alas! for the boy that believes he's a man,
When his stature grows tall, and his fingers begin
To stroke the soft down that comes over his chin;
When he talks of assemblies, assumes the fine air,
Falls in love, as he calls it, and dreams of the fair!
This school and these students I claimed for my own;
Here my precepts were utter'd, my maxims made known:
I display'd the fair honor for wisdom design'd,
And the lasting content she bestows on the mind:
I open'd my treasures-around me they came,
And I rous'd their ambition for glory and fame:
They heard me with rapture: I saw in their eyes
Fair hope, emulation and genius arise,
I hail'd the glad omen-"My children," I cried,
"Let no pleasing object your bosom divide,
'Till crown'd with fair Virtue, with Learning refined,
I restore you a blessing and joy to mankind."
Ah! fond expectation! I saw, with despair,
How soon they forsook me to wait on the Fair.
While I talk'd of planets that roll'd in the skies,
Their thoughts were on dimples and beautiful eyes;
I laid down positions and strove to explain-
They thought of Eliza, and Mary and Jane!
I saw a fine youth, as apart he retir'd,
Who seem'd with the ardor of learning inspir'd;
His books and his pen he disposed in due place,
And deep lines of thinking were mark'd in his face:
Sweet hope in my breast was beginning to swell,
And I lov'd the dear boy that could study so well.
"Nor shall my assistance be wanting," I cried,
"I'll crown thy exertions"-I sprang to his side-
Alas! an acrostic!-the verses were plann'd-
The name was all written-the letters were scann'd:
The initials arranged to promote the design,
And his genius was working to get the first line!
I shut up my Euclid-I blush'd for myself,
I laid Blair and Murray safe on the shelf
Disappointed, confused and o'ercome with regret,
I utter'd a wish I shall never forget:
That all the fair maidens my counsel would prize,
And shun every lad, till he's learned and wise
SALIDA