nial." "Never mind, friend,"
whispered the Dean, "_you had better be buried than
married_."

_Salem Observer,_ 1834.

* * * * *

AN OPPOSITION.

Dryden and Otway lived opposite to each other in
Queen-street. Otway coming one night from the tavern,
chalked upon Dryden's door, _Here lives John Dryden, he is a
wit_. Dryden knew his hand writing, and next day chalked on
Otway's door, _Here lives Tom Otway, he is oppo-site._

_Essex Register,_ 1802.

* * * * *

Specimens of old time newspaper poetry.

To a LADY who admired dancing.

_MAY I presume in humble lays,
My dancing fair, thy steps to praise?
While this grand maxim I advance,
That all the world is but a dance,
That human-kind, both man and woman,
Do_ dance _is evident and common.
David himself, that God-like king,
We know could_ dance, _as well as_ sing.
_Folks who at court would keep their ground,
Must dance the year attendance round.
All nature is one_ ball, _we find:
The water dances to the wind;
The sea itself at night and noon
Rises and capers to the moon;
The moon around the earth does tread
A Cheshire round in buxom red;
The earth and planets round the sun_
Dance, _nor will their_ dance _be done
'Till nature in one mass is blended;
Then we may say the_ ball _is ended._

_Salem Mercury,_ July 29, 1788.

* * * * *

THE FOUNT.

--> THE following--from the pen of a fair
correspondent--cannot be read without PLEASURE and
IMPROVEMENT.

* * * * *

_LINES FOR A SCREEN._

TO BE WRITTEN BENEATH THE FIGURE OF "MINERVA HOLDING A CROWN
OF OLIVE."

Ah! lovely Ladies--while with care
Ye guard from harm your FACES fair;
While spreads the airy PARASOL
To shield you from the beams of SOL;
And many a FAN and VEIL and BLIND
Protect from each intrusive wind:--
And whilst ye deign to intervene
Twixt you and fire, the humble SCREEN!--
Oh! strive alike to guard your _hearts_
From VICE, and all her wily arts.
Your parasol let VIRTUE prove,
To ward th' attacks of