Pawtucket Herald, And Independent Inquirer

From the Natchez Ariel.

TO KATY-DID,

A large green fly, that holds its nocturnal
serenades on one of the shade trees of our
house, to the no small annoyance of the in-
mates.

Who art thou, shrill and noisy insect, say?
Thou who among the thickest foliage hid
In sudden silence sits the live-long day,
And toils at night to tell, that "Katy did ?"
Art thou a spirit from another state,
Who by the accusing angel hither bid;
Comes to do penance to thy injur'd Kate,
By owning right the all that "Katy did?"
Or did thy Katy, serpent like, beguile,
Thy honest bosom by her potent spell;
And revel on thy feeling for a while,
'Then bid thy heart in lonely anguish swell?
If Kate, in aught, has been unkind to thee,
Then bless thy stars that thou of her art rid,
But cease that cry of wild monotony,
That "Katy did it," "Katy," "Katy did,"
Whoe'er thou art, whate'er thy errand be,
Oh let no longer Katy's act be hid;
If thou would'st have our care of sympathy,
Tell, tell oh tell what 'tis that "Katy did."
But if in thee no spirit be enshrin'd,
And thou art taught by nature in her play
Far in the wild-woods gloomiest shades thou'll find
More willing listeners to thy rough edg'd lay.