Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

From the New England Farmer.

THE SLEEP OF THE SLUGGARD
By Thomas G. Fessender.

O list to an indolent lump of live lumber.
Whom slothfulness binds with invisible bands
A little more sleep, and a little more slumber
A little more folding together the hands.

"I've a villanous cold—and my head—how it aches!
The north wind is blowing and stings like a hornet.
And as to the rising as soon as day breaks,
'Tis a vile vulgar habit, and gentlefolks scorn it.

I'm none of those wretches who labor for bread,
Though foul or fair weather, whatever may happen;

I mean to enjoy both my table and bed—hap
And so I will turn over and take another nap."

"I've money enough and can live at my ease,
I cannot be caught in necessity's trap,
I'll sleep every day till the next if I please.
And so I'll turn over and take t'other nap."

His heavy hydropical carcass he turns.
And sinks in uneasy intemperate rest,
Till dim in his bosom the lamp of life burns,
While snorting with nightmare and plethora prest.

What horrible visions his bed hover o'er.
The phantoms of spleen and the blue devils dive!
Like Gorgons and Hydras of fabulous lore,
And red dragons vomiting rivers of fire!

Now he clings to the side of a prominent steep.
O'er a rough roaring cataract hangs by a hair,
Now suddenly sinks in a bottomless deep.
And starts half awake, with a shriek of despair.

Thus he rolls like a porpoise, o'er billows of down:
Grows big as a mammoth and fat as a seal,
Lies a plague to his friends or a charge to the town,
And dies to make worms a most plentiful meal.

Ye sons of Columbia, shun the syren of sloth.
For if you submit to her leaden control.
You'll find, when too late, like a venomous moth,
She eats up the substance, and poisons the soul.

Once the wizard of indolence takes you in hand.
Quick break from his grasp, or you're quickly undone,
Your limbs will be lithe as a wickapy wand,
And your sinews be softened like wax in the sun.

*Wickapy is the popular name for a shrub which is remarkably flexible.