MALVERN HILLS, &c. &c. THE MISER'S WILL. A CONVERSATIONAL POem, foundED ON FACT. OLD Scrape-all, who had long been ailing, To whelm him in a neighbouring jail, When Blunt drew near, to wish "Good day;" 5 The Miser, now, with sigh profound, "I think my griefs will never end!" 10 "O, yes they will, and quickly too!" Said Blunt. "Now tell me, how d'ye do?" "Do!" Scrape-all cried, "why scarce alive, "But times may mend, and I revive: "Your ailing people live the longest, ་ Though grief will undermine the strongest. 15 "Oh! pity me! With all my treasure, 66 My sorrows, language scarce can measure. "The hog that wallows in his sty, "Has thrice more happiness than I! 66 My thoughts are now, while others sleep, "Not how to gain, but how to keep :"Securities are bad, or badly, "And then the taxes grind me sadly." Blunt, (firm resolved, through sheer vexation, To breathe false unction to his soul,) "Brim full of care and misery! 30 66 Pity! I more than pity you! "Mine is commiseration true! "Nor would I bear your heart's commotion "For all the mines of earth and ocean." "Good neighbour Blunt," said Scrape-all, staring, 35 "Like me, be patient, and forbearing." Blunt answer'd, chafed, and melancholy, "But, though your purse is deep and strong, 40 Speak louder, friend, my ears do fail, 45 I'm grown as deaf as a door-nail.” "I say, your years have so increased, "You must be four-score, now, at least." 30 Hold, hold!" (he cried) you're far away! "I am but seventy-nine, this day, "And think, whatever others fear, "I still may reach my hundredth year!" Said Blunt, "Now make me your confessor! 'Pray, whom do you keep your riches for? "That mighty hoard of rusty pelf?” "Whom for!" cried Scrape-all-"for myself! "And when, at length, I die-five-score "Or thereabouts, say, ten years more, 65 My wealth, I do design, shall be "Placed in my coffin, close by me; "'Tis right, you know, that friends should lie "Near to each other when they die!" 66 40 Nay," answer'd Blunt, "when you are dead, "Authority, you'll find, is filed; "Some one, no doubt, will still contrive "To keep your slumbering hoards alive. "Make, make, your Will!-Howe'er it grieve, "You must your all, to some one leave!" "What! make my Will! My all bestow "On some one else? No! neighbour, no! "I'll be, whilst these my hands can hold, "The only keeper of my gold; 50 "From night to morn, from morn to night, 55 "I'll keep it close, and hold it tight!" M "You rightly speak, you are no more 66 60 "Yes, yes," said Scrape-all, "'twill not do 70 * It cannot excite wonder that a Miser should thus deceive himself, when so many instances occur of MURDERERS receiving the Eucharist just before they are hanged; and advancing to the gallows, with, apparently, the same feelings which martyrs did to the stake! No humane mind would hesitate in administering all lawful comfort to a wretched fellow creature, however abased, but in our mistaken sympathy we must take care not to precede the Divine Warrant, and I would ask the injudicious Spiritual Guides of such men, what authority they have from Scripture, for allowing Murderers to partake of the Eucharist ? It is almost safe to conclude, with Jeremy Taylor, that no mere profession, in criminals of the worst description, is sufficient to establish, with us, the validity of true repentance, from its wanting the corroboration, which alone could be conclusive; that of subsequent conduct." But, to administer the Sacrament to such men, without their giving, at least, the most satisfactory human indications of contrition and a renewed heart, is an awful infraction on the sanctity of Religion. |