All silent as the sheeted dead, There was a look of horror flashed When all around him rose to pray, A murmur broke along the crowd, The prayer was at an end; With ringing heels and measured tread Through sounding aisle, o'er grating stair, Till all were gathered on the seats That fearful stranger! down he sat, And on his lip a rising smile Of scorn or pleasure played. He took his hat and hung it up, With slow but earnest air; He stripped his coat from off his back, Then from his nearest neighbor's side He took his teacup too. How fled the sugar from the bowl! How sunk the azure cream! They vanished like the shapes that float A long, long draught, an outstretched hand, And crackers, toast, and tea, They faded from the stranger's touch Then clouds were dark on many a brow, Fear sat upon their souls,` And, in a bitter agony, They clasped their buttered rolls. - A whisper trembled through the crowd, - And some were silent, for they thought What if the creature should arise, For he was stout and tall, — And swallow down a sophomore, Coat, crow's-foot, cap, and all! All sullenly the stranger rose; He took his hat from off the peg, Four freshmen fainted on the seat, Yet on the fearful being passed, There is full many a starving man, But never more that hungry one In Commons-hall was seen. Yet often at the sunset hour, When tolls the evening bell, The freshman lingers on the steps, That frightful tale to tell. THE SPECTRE PIG. A BALLAD. Ir was the stalwart butcher man, And said the gentle Pig must die, And oh! it was the gentle Pig Lay stretched upon the ground, And ah! it was the cruel knife They took him then, those wicked men, They trailed him all along; They put a stick between his lips, And through his heels a thong; |