Republican Herald

Pottery.
ECLIPSE.
To the Editor of the Albany Argus.
Sir—The following lines appeared in the April No. of Atkinson's Philadelphia Casket for
1831. Originally elicited by the annular eclipse of Feb. 12, 1831, they are appropriate to
that of Sept. 18, 1838:
Did you know that a wedding happened on high,
And who were the parties united?
Twas the Sun and the Moon! in the halls of the sky,
They were joined, and our continent witnessed the tie:
No continent else was invited.
Their courtship was tedious, for seldom they met
Tete-a-tete, while long centuries glided:
But the warmth of his love she could hardly forget,
For though distant afar, he would smile on her yet,
Save when Earth the fond couple divided.
But why so prolix was the courtship; and why
So long was postponed their connexion?
That the bridegroom was anxious, 'twere vain to deny,
Since the heat of his passion pervaded the sky;
But the bride was renowned for—reflection.
Besides, 'tis reported their friends were all vexed;
The match was deemed, somehow unequal;
And when bid to the wedding, each made some pretext
To decline, till the lovers, worn out and perplexed,
Were compelled to elope in the sequel.
Mars and Jupiter never such business could bear,
So they haughtily kept themselves from it;
Herschel dwelt at such distance he could not be there:
Saturn sent with reluctance his ring to the air,
By the hands of a trust-worthy Comet.
Only one dim pale planet, of planets the least,
Condescended their nuptials to honor;
And that seemed like skulking away to the east;
Some assert it was Mercury acting as priest;
Some Venus, in peeping shame on her.
Earth's inhabitants rejoiced as the bridegroom and bride
In their mutual embraces would linger;
While careering through regions of light at his side
She displayed the bright Ring not a world too wide
For a conjugal pledge on her finger.
Henceforth shall there Orion, to all husbands and wives
Shine as patterns of duty respected,
From the New England Farmer.