SONG OF THE CROAKER. [Written for “ Our Daily Fare.”} BY HORATIO ALG KB, JR. An old fro" lived in a dismal swamp, In a dismal kind of way; Ami all that he did, whatever befell, Was tu croak the livcloii" day. Croak, emak, croak, When darkness filled the air, Ami croak, croak, croak When the skies were bright and fair. “Good Master Frojr, a battle is fouirhf, And the loeman's power is broke/’ Ihit lie only turned a greener hue, Ami answered with a croak. Croak, croak, croak, When the clouds are dark and dun; And croak, croak, croak In the Maze of the noontide sun. “Good Master Fro", the forces of l\i"ht Are driving the* hosts of Wrong,"’ But he gives his head an ominous shako And croaks out “ Sous verrons ! ” Croak, croak, croak, Till the heart is full of gloom, And croak, croak, croak, Till the world seems hut a tomb. To poison the cup of life By always dreading the worst, Is to make of the earth a dungeon damp Ami the happiest life accursed. Croak, croak, cr« ak, When the noontide sun rides high, Ami croak, croak, croak, Lest the night come by ami bye. Farewell to the dismal frog, Let him croak as loud as he may, lie cannot blot the sun from heaveu Nor hinder the march of day. Though he croak, croak, croak, Till the heart is ful! of gloom, And emak, croak, croak Till the world seems but a tomb. Very apropos indeed to this poem, though different in “treatment” is the following, translated from Goethe by the Reverend Pro fessor F. 11. lledoe, who contributes it to Our Daily Fare: THE CROAKERS, [From Gccthc. | The pond in the meadow was frozen tight, The frogs beneath, in a doleful plight, Could no more leap as they had done, — Their gambols stopped, and all their fuu. Half numb, they murmured dreamily What they would do when they were free. Once clear of winter’s icy yoke, They promised never more to croak; No more in concert would they rail, But each should sing like a nightingale. The south wind blew, the ice gave way, The frogs once more could frisk and play. They stretched their limbs, they leaped ashore, And they—-croaked as drearily as before. THE FAIR AT EIGHT. After the brilliant assemblage of last eve ning, no person can doubt the success of our great Fair. The crowd was immense, and established clearly that few persons were affected by the senseless rumors set afloat so industriously by indisposed persons. Otib IDjvi ly Pare. HUB 01 SEMI CENTRAL FAIR The William Penn Parlor and the De partment of Facts, Fancy, and Gossip. rnriE temporary closing of our Great Fair, on Wednesday afternooon, enabled tlie mechanics to finish up their work, and the various Committees to perfect their arrange ments ; and everything having been put in order, the Fair opened yesterday morning, with everything in “apple-pie order,” and with no fear of any further hitch in the working of the newly-fledged “institution.” Vesterday morning at the appointed hour (ten o'clock) the doors were thrown open to the public, and that, “many-headed,” sensible noun of multitude took prompt and general advantage of the opportunity afforded it. to witness the grandest scene that Philadelphia ever offered for exhibition cr patronage. As the Fair is principally of Pennsylvania growth, we have thought it proper to give an early description of the WILLIAM PENS PARLOR. Winn the idea of getting up a parlor in the style of the days of the great founder of the State, and the storing it with relics of William I’e.nn and his time, was suggested, the carry ing out of the plan was entrusted to the fol lowing named ladies and gentlemen, who were appointed a Committee on the Penn Parlor: Committee of Men. —Eli K. Price, Chairman; 11. R. Warriner, Secretary; William Garrett, Treasurer; Edward Hopper, Henry C. Town send, William Garrett, Henry M. Laing, Jesse Garrett, Isaac Serrill, William R. Wister, N. W. ltulon, Charles C. Sellers, 11. Coulton Ha vis, John Sellers, Alfred 1!. Just is, J. Sidney Keen, Elliston Perot, J. Dickinson Sargeant, J. Dickinson Logan, Charles Pickering, Geo. M. Coates. Committee of Women. —Miss Ellen M. Price, Chairman ; Miss Elizabeth S. Garrett, Treasu rer ; Miss Elizabeth l’ennock, Secretary ; Mrs. Henry C. Townsend, Mrs. Henry C. Lea, Mrs. Dr. Hughes, Mrs. Josephine Miller, Mrs. Sam uel Jones, Miss Anna Matlack, Miss -Martha Andrews, Mrs. William Janney, Miss M. L. Taylor, Miss Julia Wiltberger, Miss Alice A. Pearson, Miss Rebecca Judkins. The “ Parlor” is located in a structure built purposely for it, a little to the south of Union Avenue, near its western extremity. There is an anti-room where relics of the past, and photographs of Penn localities and Penn celebrities, are for sale, and where the visitor has to run the gauntlet of a party of fair young saleswomen, who do their best to look becomingly demure; but whoso bright eyes will twinkle W'ith fun and mischief, despite the soberness of their calling as outer sentinels of the treasured relics of the most illustrious of Pennsylvania Friends. Ten cents is the ridiculously insignificant sum charged for admission to the rich antiqua rian mine in this department—a collection of Penn Relics more curious and valuable than were ever before gathered together. First, perhaps, in historical value, comes the belt of wampum which was given to Penn by the Indian Sachems when the Treaty was made under the spreading branches of the great, elm at Khackamuxon, in ltiSJ. This belt was retained in the possession of the I’enn family in England until within a few years, when Mr. John Penn presented it, in person, to the Historical’ Society of Pennsyl vania. Then come two original letters of Penn to the Indians, before he came across the sea to visit his magnificent province. One of these letters is so characteristic that we can not avoid the temptation of copying it liter ally. It runs in this wise: London, lMth Blh mo'th, 1081. My ffreinds There is one great God & Power that hath made the world and all things therein, to whom you and I and all people owe their being and well being, and to whom you and I must one Day give an account for all that wee Doe in the world. Thi3 great God hath written his Law in our hearts by which wee are taught & Commanded to Love & help & Doe good to one another & not to Doc llarme and mischeif one unto another: Now this great. God bath been pleased to make nice concerned in your Parts of the world, and the King of the Country where I live hath given unto mee a great Pro vince therein, Rut I Desire to Enjoy it with your Love & Consent, that wee may allwaves Live together as neighbours and ffreinds. Else what would the great God say to us; who hath made us not to Devour and Destroy one another but Live kindly and Soberly together in the world? now I would have you well observe, (hat. I am senceable of the unkind ness and Injustice that hath been too much Exercised towards you by the People of those Parts of the world who have sought themselves, & to make great advantages by you. Rather than be examples of Justice and Goodness vnto you, which I hear hath been matter of troble to you. & Caused Great Grudgings & Animositys Sometimes to the Shedding of Wood, which hath made the Great God Angry. But I am not such a Man, as is well known in my own Country. 1 have great. Love and Re gard towards you, and 1 desire to win and gain your Love and ffreindship by a Kind Just and Peaceable Life: & the People I send are of tho same mind and shall in all things be have themselves accordingly and if in anything any shall offend you or your People you shall have full and speedy satisfaction for the same by an Equnll number of Just, men on both sides that, by no means you may have Just, oc casion of being offended against them. I shall shortly Como to you myselfe at what, time wee may more ffooly and largely Conferr and Discourse of these matters; iu the mean time I shall send my Commissioners to treat with you about Land, and a form of League of Peace. Let mee Desire you to be kind to them & the People, & Receive those Presents & tokens which I have sent to you as a testi mony of my good good will to you & my Reso lution to Live Justly Peaceably and Ifrcindly with you. I am your Loveing ft'reind, IVm. Penn. ft'or the King or Kings of the Indians in Pcnn silvania.
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