I'll tell you what happened without delay, Frightening the people out of their wits, — Seventeen hundred and fifty-five. It was on the terrible Earthquake-day Now in building of chaises, I tell you what, In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, - lurking still, And that's the reason, beyond a doubt, That a chaise breaks down, but doesn't wear out. But the Deacon swore (as Deacons do, It should be so built that it couldn' break daoun: "Fur," said the Deacon, "t's mighty plain Thut the weakes' place mus' stan' the strain; 'N' the way t' fix it, uz I maintain, Is only jest T' make that place uz strong uz the rest." So the Deacon inquired of the village folk The hubs of logs from the "Settler's ellum," And the wedges flew from between their lips, Steel of the finest, bright and blue; That was the way he "put her through." Do! I tell you, I rather guess She was a wonder, and nothing less! Colts grew horses, beards turned gray, Children and grandchildren where were they? But there stood the stout old one-hoss shay As fresh as on Lisbon-earthquake-day! EIGHTEEN HUNDRED; - it came and found The Deacon's masterpiece strong and sound. "Hahnsum kerridge" they called it then. Eighteen hundred and twenty came; Little of all we value here Wakes on the morn of its hundredth year (This is a moral that runs at large; There are traces of age in the one-hoss shay, A general flavor of mild decay, But nothing local, as one may say. There couldn't be, for the Deacon's art Had made it so like in every part That there wasn't a chance for one to start. For the wheels were just as strong as the thills, First of November, 'Fifty-five! This morning the parson takes a drive. How it went to pieces all at once, End of the wonderful one-hoss shay. - OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. THE GENTLEMAN When you have found a man, you have not far to go to find a gentleman. You cannot make a gold ring out of brass. You cannot change an Alaska crystal to a South African diamond. You cannot make a gentleman till you have first a man. To be a gentleman, it will not be sufficient to have had a grandfather. It does not depend upon the tailor, or the toilet. Blood will degenerate. Good clothes are not good habits. The prince Lee Boo concluded that the hog, in England, was the only gentleman, as being the only thing that did not labour. A gentleman is just a gentle-man; no more, no less, a diamond polished that was first a diamond in the rough. A gentleman is gentle; a gentleman is modest; a gentleman is courteous; a gentleman is generous; a gentleman is slow to take offence, as being one that never gives it; a gentleman is slow to surmise evil, as being one that never thinks it; a gentleman goes armed only in consciousness of right; a gentleman subjects his appetites; a gentleman refines his taste; a gentleman subdues his feelings; a gentleman deems every other better than himself. Sir Philip Sidney was never so much a gentleman — mirror though he was of England's |