Antiquarians say, that an old negro at Cape Cod, whenever his master
required any thing of him, would exclaim, “_Massa chuse it_.” Thence in
time the name of _Massachusett_.
The city of _Albany_ was originally settled by Scotch people. When
strangers on their arrival there asked how the new comers did? the
answer was, “_All bonny_.” The spelling we find a little altered, but
not the sound.
When Julius Cæsar’s army lay encamped at _Ticonderoga_, near a thousand
years ago, the deserters were commonly tied up upon a battering ram and
flogged: When any culprit was brought out, the commanding centurion
would exclaim, _Tie on the rogue!_ The name, we see, has worn well.
A fat landlady, who about the time of the flight of Mahomet from Mecca,
lived between new Orleans and the Chicasaw cliffs, was scarcely ever
unfurnished with pigeon sea pye; and thence got the name of _Mrs. Sea
Pye_. The enormous river Mississipi, owes its name to the fat landlady.
In the reign of Dermot O’Mullogh, in the kingdom of Connaught, about the
beginning of the second century, a noisy fellow by the name of _Pat
Riot_, made himself very conspicuous; the word _Patriot_ has come down
to us perfect and unimpaired.
* * * * *
* * * *
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
+JULIET.----A Story.+
The sun had descended just below the horizon--all nature was wrapped in
solemn silence--when Juliet hastened to the tomb of her dear friend.
Having seated herself upon the green turf near his head, and looking
with anxiety to the grave, she exclaimed-- “Oh Lovemore!-- Why leave
your Juliet thus to mourn?-- Answer me, my dear, this once--how cruel to
separate us!-- Oh Death, thou welcome messenger to those who are
troubled--thou finisher of grief and despair--thou antidote to all
future evils-- Why thus delay thy second coming?--- Or, why didst thou
come so soon?-- What have I been guilty of, that thus thou dost
torment?-- If Lovemore received the summons, why not Juliet?-- Oh
Lovemore!--- thou who wert once the boast of creation, now to be no
more!-- Thou who were once the delight of all who had the pleasure of
thy acquaintance---now to be a companion for worms.--- Cruel fates thus
to deprive me of my all--- If the summons must be obeyed, why was not
the tomb of Lovemore made the receptacle for Juliet too.---
Lovemore---he is gone---alas! he’s gone---never to return---never to
behold his Juliet again.--- Lovemore! Lovemore!--- why thus callous to
the cries of her whom it was ever thy wish to please?--- Must Juliet,
thy beloved Juliet, weep in vain?--- And must those lips which never
spoke of Lovemore but with affection and delight, be silenced without a
reply?--- Surely you have not grown disdainful to her whom you once
adored?--- If still thou art the Lovemore whom Juliet once beheld---if
still thy affection for her is pure, why thus be silent?--- I conjure
you by those tender vows which once you made, answer me now.”----
“Juliet--- Juliet”---- “Hark!--- What voice is that I hear calling on
Juliet’s name?”---- “Why thus repine at the will of Heaven?--- and why
thus dictate to thy Creator how to act?--- Consider thy presumption in
reproving him.--- Will your repeated cries to heaven restore new vigour
to that inanimate, cold, and putrified clay?--- No;--- all will be in
vain.--- I charge you, reflect.”---- “Have I erred?--- Oh! righteous
Heaven, and have I been guilty of accusing thee of injustice?--- Have I
called in question thy power?--- Yes;--- it is too true--- I have.---
Why did Juliet murmur, and why oppose thy just decrees?--- O Heaven, was
it not for the affection she bore to thee, Lovemore, that caused her
thus to transgress?--- Yes, it was, Juliet loved him, and Juliet still
loves him---but her will must be submissive to the will of Heaven.--- He
who gave thee birth, O Lovemore! has called you hence--- You have
answered your mission.--- The summons served, the debt of nature’s
paid.--- Juliet will no longer grieve.--- Lovemore, soon shall you find
thy Juliet in thy arms:--- then that tomb which is now the receptacle of
thy body, shall be mine--- And that tear which was seen on Juliet’s
cheek shall be changed to joy.--- She who now weeps over thy cold clay,
shall then be thy companion for ever.” Here Juliet embraced the grave of
Lovemore, and summoning up the virtues of resignation and patience to
her aid, she silently quitted the spot---and calmly mourned, not
murmured, till Heaven united her spirit with that of her departed lover.