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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Deborah's Parrot, a Village Tale</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">'Twas in a little western town<br>An ancient Maiden dwelt:<br>Her name was MISS, or MISTRESS, Brown,<br>Or DEBORAH, or DEBBY: She<br>Was doom'd a Spinster pure to be,<br>For soft delights her breast ne'er felt:<br>Yet, she had watchful Ears and Eyes<br>For ev'ry youthful neighbour,<br>And never did she cease to labour<br>A tripping female to surprize.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">And why was she so wond'rous pure,<br>So stiff, so solemn--so demure?<br>Why did she watch with so much care<br>The roving youth, the wand'ring fair?<br>The tattler, Fame, has said that she<br>A Spinster's life had long detested,<br>But 'twas her quiet destiny,<br>Never to be molested !--<br>And had Miss DEBBY'S form been grac'd,<br>Fame adds,--She had not been so chaste;--<br>But since for frailty she would roam,<br>She ne'er was taught--to look at home .</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Miss DEBBY was of mien demure<br>And blush'd, like any maid !<br>She could not saucy man endure<br>Lest she should be betray'd!<br>She never fail'd at dance or fair<br>To watch the wily lurcher's snare;<br>At Church, she was a model Godly!<br>Though sometimes she had other eyes<br>Than those, uplifted to the skies,<br>Leering most oddly!<br>And Scandal, ever busy, thought<br>She rarely practic'd--what she taught.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Her dress was always stiff brocade,<br>With laces broad and dear;<br>Fine Cobwebs ! that would thinly shade<br>Her shrivell'd cheek of sallow hue,<br>While, like a Spider, her keen eye,<br>Which never shed soft pity's tear,<br>Small holes in others geer could spy,<br>And microscopic follies, prying view.<br>And sorely vex'd was ev'ry simple thing<br>That wander'd near her never-tiring sting!</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Miss DEBBY had a PARROT, who,<br>If Fame speaks true,<br>Could prate, and tell what neighbours did,<br>And yet the saucy rogue was never chid!<br>Sometimes, he talk'd of roving Spouses<br>Who wander'd from their quiet houses:<br>Sometimes, he call'd a Spinster pure<br>By names, that Virtue can't indure!<br>And sometimes told an ancient Dame<br>Such tales as made her blush with shame!<br>Then gabbled how a giddy Miss<br>Would give the boist'rous Squire a kiss!<br>But chiefly he was taught to cry,<br>Who with the Parson toy'd? O fie! "</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">This little joke, Miss DEBBY taught him,<br>To vex a young and pretty neighbour;<br>But by her scandal-zealous labour<br>To shame she brought him!<br>For, the Old PARROT, like his teacher<br>Was but a false and canting preacher,<br>And many a gamesome pair had sworn<br>Such lessons were not to be borne.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">At last, Miss DEBBY sore was flouted<br>And by her angry neighbours scouted;<br>She never knew one hour of rest,<br>Of ev'ry Saucy Boor, the jest:<br>The young despis'd her, and the Sage<br>Look'd back on Time's impartial page;<br>They knew that youth was giv'n to prove<br>The season of extatic joy,<br>That none but Cynics would destroy,<br>The early buds of Love.<br>They also knew that DEBBY sigh'd<br>For charms that envious Time deny'd;<br>That she was vex'd with jealous Spleen<br>That Hymen pass'd her by, unseen.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">For though the Spinster's wealth was known,<br>Gold will not purchase Love--alone .<br>She, and her PARROT, now were thought<br>The torments of their little Sphere;<br>He, because mischievously taught,<br>And She, because a maid austere !--<br>In short, she deem'd it wise to leave<br>A Place, where none remain'd, to grieve.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Soon, to a distant town remov'd,<br>Miss DEBBY'S gold an husband bought;<br>And all she had her PARROT taught,<br>(Her PARROT now no more belov'd,)<br>Was quite forgotten. But, alas!<br>As Fate would have it come to pass,<br>Her Spouse was giv'n to jealous rage,<br>For, both in Person and in Age ,<br>He was the partner of his love,<br>Ordain'd her second Self to prove!</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">One day, Old JENKINS had been out<br>With merry friends to dine,<br>And, freely talking, had, no doubt<br>Been also free with wine.<br>One said, of all the wanton gay<br>In the whole parish search it round,<br>None like the PARSON could be found,<br>Where a frail Maid was in the way.<br>Another thought the Parson sure<br>To win the heart of maid or wife;<br>And would have freely pledg'd his life<br>That young, or old, or rich or poor<br>None could defy<br>The magic of his roving eye!</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">JENKINS went home, but all the night<br>He dream'd of this strange tale!<br>Yet, bless'd his stars ! with proud delight,<br>His partner was not young, nor frail.<br>Next morning, at the breakfast table.<br>The PARROT, loud as he was able,<br>Was heard repeatedly to cry,<br>Who with the Parson toy'd? O fie!"</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Old JENKINS listen'd, and grew pale,<br>The PARROT then, more loudly scream'd,<br>And MISTRESS JENKINS heard the tale<br>And much alarm'd she seem'd!<br>Trembling she tried to stop his breath,<br>Her lips and cheek as pale as death!<br>The more she trembled, still the more<br>Old JENKINS view'd her o'er and o'er;<br>And now her yellow cheek was spread<br>With blushes of the deepest red.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">And now again the PARROT'S Tale<br>Made his old Tutoress doubly pale;<br>For cowardice and guilt, they say<br>Are the twin brothers of the soul;<br>So MISTRESS JENKINS, her dismay<br>Could not controul!<br>While the accuser, now grown bold,<br>Thrice o'er, the tale of mischief told.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Now JENKINS from the table rose,<br>"Who with the Parson toy'd? " he cried.<br>"So MISTRESS FRAILTY, you must play,<br>"And sport, your wanton hours away.<br>"And with your gold, a pretty joke,<br>"You thought to buy a pleasant cloak;<br>"A screen to hide your shame--but know<br>"I will not blind to ruin go.--<br>"I am no modern Spouse , dy'e see,<br>"Gold will not gild disgrace, with me!"<br>Some say he seiz'd his fearful bride,<br>And came to blows!<br>Day after day, the contest dire<br>Augmented, with resistless ire!<br>And many a drubbing DEBBY bought<br>For mischief, she her PARROT taught!</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=455602" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">Thus, SLANDER turns against its maker;<br>And if this little Story reaches<br>A SPINSTER, who her PARROT teaches,<br>Let her a better task pursue,<br>And here, the certain VENGEANCE view<br>Which surely will, in TIME, O'ERTAKE HER.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><a href="http://poems.citatepedia.com/">poem</a> by <strong><a rel="author" href="http://authors.citatepedia.com/by.php?a=Mary+Darby+Robinson">Mary Darby Robinson</a></strong></div>