Partingtonian patchwork Blifkins the martyr : the domestic trials of a model husband. The modern syntax : Dr. Spooner's experiences in search of the delectable. Partington papers : strippings of the warm milk of human kindness. New and old dips from an unambitious inkstand. Humorous, eccentric, rhythmical |
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BUILDING THE BRIDGE.
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BUILDING THE BRIDGE.
A TRUTHFUL STORY OF OLD PEMIGEWASSET.
Out spake the Plymouth landlord:
“A bridge we'll straightway throw
Across Pemigewasset's tide
To where the wild flowers blow.”
Then out spake stout Seth Brownleaf,
Conductor on the road:
“'Twere worth a deal to all that here
Mayhap shall find abode;
And how can one do better
Than herein show his skill,
For the credit of his genius
And the power of his will?
“A bridge we'll straightway throw
Across Pemigewasset's tide
To where the wild flowers blow.”
Then out spake stout Seth Brownleaf,
Conductor on the road:
“'Twere worth a deal to all that here
Mayhap shall find abode;
And how can one do better
Than herein show his skill,
For the credit of his genius
And the power of his will?
“So down the bridge goes, landlord,
With all the speed it may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will build it in a day.
O'er that bright stream a pathway
May well be built by three;
Now who will stand on either hand
And build the bridge with me?”
With all the speed it may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will build it in a day.
O'er that bright stream a pathway
May well be built by three;
Now who will stand on either hand
And build the bridge with me?”
Then out spake Jotham Hornbeam—
A rum'un rough was he:
“Lo, I will stand with axe in hand,
And build the bridge with thee.”
And out spake strong Jo Chesman—
A granite boy was he:
“I will abide with boards supplied,
And build the bridge with thee.”
A rum'un rough was he:
“Lo, I will stand with axe in hand,
And build the bridge with thee.”
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A granite boy was he:
“I will abide with boards supplied,
And build the bridge with thee.”
“Seth Brownleaf,” said the landlord,
“As thou sayest so let it be.”
And straightway went on their intent
Those sturdy builders three;
For such men in such spirit
Were bound a bridge to throw,
That son, and wife, in limb and life,
Might safely over go.
“As thou sayest so let it be.”
And straightway went on their intent
Those sturdy builders three;
For such men in such spirit
Were bound a bridge to throw,
That son, and wife, in limb and life,
Might safely over go.
The three stood calm and silent,
And looked upon the tide,
Then planted first a joiner's bench
That lay the stream beside;
And soon the boarders, looking on,
Felt their hearts thrill to see
The joiner's bench and an old board fence
A path for the dauntless three.
And looked upon the tide,
Then planted first a joiner's bench
That lay the stream beside;
And soon the boarders, looking on,
Felt their hearts thrill to see
The joiner's bench and an old board fence
A path for the dauntless three.
The axe and hammer sounded,
As manfully they plied,
And the bridge stretched out behind them
In its majesty and pride.
“Come back! come back! bold Brownleaf,”
Cried the boarders with a burst;
“On, Hornbeam! on, Jo Chesman!
And we will quench your thirst.”
As manfully they plied,
And the bridge stretched out behind them
In its majesty and pride.
“Come back! come back! bold Brownleaf,”
Cried the boarders with a burst;
“On, Hornbeam! on, Jo Chesman!
And we will quench your thirst.”
On labored Jotham Hornbeam,
Jo Chesman pushed ahead;
The hammers rattled merrily,
The work triumphant sped;
And when they turned their faces
Towards the thither land,
They saw brave Brownleaf coming back
With a stone jug in his hand.
Jo Chesman pushed ahead;
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The work triumphant sped;
And when they turned their faces
Towards the thither land,
They saw brave Brownleaf coming back
With a stone jug in his hand.
Then, with a shout like thunder,
They laid the last cross-beam,
And their voices echoed merrily
O'er Pemigewasset's stream;
And a loud shout of triumph
Rose from the other side,
As finished was the mighty bridge
Across the rushing tide.
They laid the last cross-beam,
And their voices echoed merrily
O'er Pemigewasset's stream;
And a loud shout of triumph
Rose from the other side,
As finished was the mighty bridge
Across the rushing tide.
Alone stood brave Seth Brownleaf,
For the others had gone in,
And the way they bagged those fluids
Was what men term “a sin.”
“He's done it!” cried Si. Winkley,
As he took another chaw;
“'Twill squash!” said old Lishe Porcina,
Bringing down his dexter paw.
For the others had gone in,
And the way they bagged those fluids
Was what men term “a sin.”
“He's done it!” cried Si. Winkley,
As he took another chaw;
“'Twill squash!” said old Lishe Porcina,
Bringing down his dexter paw.
Round turned his broad face glowing;
His mates were overcome;
Nor spoke a word did he to them,
But looked towards his home;
He saw the hotel beaming fair—
The boarders in a row—
And he spoke to the noble river
That at his feet did flow:—
His mates were overcome;
Nor spoke a word did he to them,
But looked towards his home;
He saw the hotel beaming fair—
The boarders in a row—
And he spoke to the noble river
That at his feet did flow:—
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“Father Pemigewasset!
Look at this bridge, I pray.
Its joiner's bench, its boards and nails,
Take them in charge this day.”
So he spoke, and gathered up the tools,
His handsaw by his side,
And then upon the bridge he'd made
He crossed the humbled tide.
Look at this bridge, I pray.
Its joiner's bench, its boards and nails,
Take them in charge this day.”
So he spoke, and gathered up the tools,
His handsaw by his side,
And then upon the bridge he'd made
He crossed the humbled tide.
And now the shore he reaches,
Now on the bank he stands,
Now round him throng the boarders,
Who shake his muddy hands;
But when, three weeks thereafter,
The fresh came down apace,
Away went the bridge like a cobweb chain,
And left not a single trace.
Now on the bank he stands,
Now round him throng the boarders,
Who shake his muddy hands;
But when, three weeks thereafter,
The fresh came down apace,
Away went the bridge like a cobweb chain,
And left not a single trace.
Yet Hornbeam and Jo Chesman
Both swear, by main and might,
That they were sober as a judge,
And only Seth was tight;
And say the bridge would e'er have stood
Through all the tides and gales,
If the whiskey hadn't somehow got
Spilt over 'mongst the nails.
Both swear, by main and might,
That they were sober as a judge,
And only Seth was tight;
And say the bridge would e'er have stood
Through all the tides and gales,
If the whiskey hadn't somehow got
Spilt over 'mongst the nails.
Note.—The foregoing incident in Roman history will be remembered by some of the older sojourners at the Pemigewasset House, in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Seth's bridge was regarded a fine specimen of engineering, though he was not an engineer; simply a conductor. It is supposed that it was from this incident that Macaulay, conceived his idea of the “Keeping of the Bridge” by Horatius and others, which he subsequently put in feeble verse.
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