Richmond Enquirer

A DEBTOR'S NEW YEAR SOLILOQUY.

[From the Philadelphia True American.]

I hate thee, New Year, harbinger of woe
To a poor mortal, when his purse runs low!
See in thy train what hideous imps appear,
What sounds, uncourteous, break upon the ear.
Sound time with misery will the stout heart fill.
"A happy New-Year—here, sir, is your bill."

Scarce has the first his footsteps homeward bent,
And ceases, in the fire, viewed content,
Ere comes a second—'tis Taylor's boy—
(The spell is broken: vanished is my joy!)
Instead of cheerful song a dunner raised.
From which around me I in rapture gaze.
I find, dread sight; 'tis Bailey's ship, I guess,
And still more dreadful, Bailey's ship sees me!

Ah! who's that now moves along the street,
And looks as tho' my footsteps he would meet,
'Tis Tommy Snob—"I sent that so oft have ran,
"Hear me from him, then tell me if you can."
And of the boots that Tommy Snob once made.
For which to Tommy now would fain be paid,—
You ask me to—see Carter's alley nigh.
Tommy, I'm busy man—good-by! good-by!

Say, is't not shameful that on New-Year's day,
When every heart in sprightliness should play,
When joy should be a dweller in every face we meet
And gay good nature gambol in the street;
Say, is't not enough to turn one to find
That duns are placed at every path of human kind.
Except a dunner dread fill to the sight
Than imps, or goblins, ghosts or sprite.

Oh, God! I ponder—safe in a dungeon's cell.
On New-Year's day should every debtor dwell,—
I hope godly Snip knits his breeches together
And so, head and soul, grow thicker as his leather.
M. M.