TOBERNARDBARTON

tobernardbarton

withacolouredprint

(1827)

whenlastyouleftyourwoodbridgepretty,

tostareatsights,andseethecity,

ifiyourmeaningunderstood,

youwish'dapicture,cheap,butgood;

thecolouring?decent;clear,notmuddy;

tosuitapoet'squietstudy,

wherebooksandprintsfordelectation

hang,ratherthanvainostentation.

thesubject?whatipleased,ifcomely;

butsomethingscripturalandhomely:

asoberpiece,notgayorwanton,

forwinterfire-sidestodescanton;

thethemesoscrupulouslyhandled,

aquakermightlookonunscandal'd;

suchasmightsatisfyannknight,

andclassicmitfordjustnotfright.

justsuchaonei'vefound,andsendit;

ifliked,igive—ifnot,butlendit.

themoral?nothingcanbesounder.

thefable?'tisitsownexpounder—

amotherteachingtoherchit

somegoodbook,andexplainingit.

he,sillyurchin,tiredoflesson,

hislearninglaysnomightystresson,

butseemstohearnotwhathehears;

thrustinghisfingersinhisears,

likeobstinate,thatperversefunnyone,

inhonestparableofbunyan.

hisworkingsister,moresedate,

listens;butinakindofstate,

thepaintermeantforsteadiness;

buthasatingeofsullenness;

and,atfirstsight,sheseemstobrook

asillherneedle,ashehisbook.

thisisthepicture.fortheframe—

'tisnotill-suitedtothesame;

oak-carved,notgilt,forfearoffalling;

old-fashion'd;plain,yetnotappalling;

andsober,astheowner'scalling.