A Poem, Found by Mr. * * * and Dedicated to Major Trowel.—MDCCXCII.

When Heav'n from Earth had shut out day, And all was wrapt in darkest night, On Nuns Green Bridge in proud array There stood a venerable sprite. Pale was his face, and, marked with scars, His burnished steel was all complete; The same with which in rueful wars, He did our ancient foes defeat. A goodly Knight, forsooth, was he, (As in old story may be seen) For he to Derby gave in Fee, That airy, healthful, pleasant Green. Across the plain the spectre went, (He stalked with all the pomp of yore) Then calling loud, "I'm John of Ghent," He tapt at Sammy's chamber door. Now pow'r of speech from Samuel flew, His pride and courage were quite gone, Full sorely now he did him rue, Of all the guilty deeds he'd done. The door upon the hinges creak'd, In came the Envoy from the dead, Poor Sammy, sweating, frighted, sneaked Under the cov'ring of his bed. "Crompton," the spectre said, "I come "Thy guilty conduct to arraign, "From the close confines of the tomb "Where I for ages past have lain. "Nuns Green was mine by martial lot, "The just acquirement of the brave; "And what by prowess I had got, "To Charity I freely gave. "How dar'st thou then with impious hand, "This public property invade? "Nor shall thy mean and quibbling band "Defeat the generous grant I made. "Why not a bright example give, "Why not espouse an honest cause, "Why not support those men who strive, "T' inforce our good and ancient laws? "Oh Sammy! quit the hireling crew "Which now the town so much disgrace, "And be it said thou can'st be true, "To th' Rights of this thy native place. "Renounce that nonconforming set, "Whose party zeal, and public hate, "Would wildest anarchy beget, "And glory in a ruin'd state. "Remember how they serv'd their King, "How serv'd the faithful Barons bold— "They voted one an useless thing, "To unjust death the other sold. "In all the wiles of Satan taught, "Despising order, God, and laws; "With bitter rage and envy fraught, "They plead the grand reforming cause. "To that unhappy time look back, "When Britain, tottering from her base, "Sent forth her chosen sons t' attack, "A haughty and rebellious race. "Ah! think of Saratoga's day, "Or on that horrid murd'rous scene, "When fainting legions bleeding lay "Unpitied on the rebel plain. "And when repeated losses prov'd, "The brave embattled hosts betrayed; "The gloomy tale they heard unmov'd, "And, smiling, her defeats survey'd. "No longer then such miscreants join, "To rob the poor of Common Right; "Renounce this guilty scheme of thine, "By other means the town enlight. "To meddling Majors leave the field, "Who, deeply skill'd in warlike art, "The battle-sword can fiercely wield, "And march their armies 'gainst a Cart.[88] "The Red Rose gift shall ne'er be seen "Immur'd in filth, and foul'd by crimes; "Nor shall the Lancastrian Green, "Disgrac'd, descend to distant times." Thus spoke the fierce offended sprite, Then vanishing, with sullen gloom, Through the dark realms of dreary night, He hasten'd to the silent tomb. The clock struck One, and Sam arose From off his damp and dewy bed, And swore he'd ne'er again oppose What angry JOHN OF GHENT had said.