304 Rogue-ay taught by Confession. [SEPT. 



unfortunate, they ought on the contrary to deem themselves happy in 

 being in any way taken notice of by such persons. The Moors are 

 always emulous of entertaining them at their tables, and pay them well 

 for the honour of their company. In return they tell the fortunes of the 

 family, and are the only sect allowed to touch the closely muffled dam- 

 sel's hand, a difficult book to read when not illuminated by the light of 

 the eye ; they nevertheless manage, amidst the numberless mysterious 

 predictions they trace along the blue veins of the arm, to say something 

 applicable to the mother's hopes and daughter's wishes, and always find 

 a liberal compensation for the laborious pains of a prophet's education, 



ROGUERY TAUGHT BY CONFESSION. 

 BY PETER PINDAR, JUN. 



A PIOUS OSTLER, who did much repent 

 Of all his sins and they were not a few 



Resolved one day to give his conscience vent, 

 And get his wicked soul whitewashed anew : 



So rose betimes next morn, and quickly knelt 

 Before a goodly priest with shaven crown, 



One who although he in a village dwelt 

 Had still a taste for all the tricks of town. 



To him a free confession soon he made, 



And boldly vowed he ne'er would sin again ; 



Hoping the holy sire would lend his aid, 

 From his polluted soul to wipe the stain. 



" Son !" cried the Monk, " although thy crimes are great, 

 Enough to damn thy wretched, sinful soul, 



Too much I fear there's one you do not state, 

 And I, ere you're absolved, must hear the whole. 



" Say, by our Lady, did you ne'er, beneath 

 The manger, keep some tallow in a horn ? 



And did you never grease a horse's teeth, 

 To hinder him from surfeiting on corn ?" 



" No, Father ! no," he cried ; " I'm not involved 

 In such a crime ; indeed, I've named the whole." 



So then the Priest his load of sin absolved, 



And home the Ostler steered with whitewashed soul. 



Just six months after this, the Ostler came 



Again before the Friar to confess ; 

 Acknowledging with penitential shame, 



His greasing horses' teeth with great success. 



" Oh, wicked son !" the holy Father cried 

 " Did you not tell me, when I saw you last, 



That you had never in your life applied 



Grease to a horse's teeth, to make him fast?" 



" Yes, holy Sir, I did, and then spoke true !" 

 Replied th man of straw, with utterance quick : 



" For, though it may seem rather strange to you, 

 / never then had heard of such a trick /" 



