The Young Gentleman and Lady's Monitor, and English Teacher's Assistant / Being a collection of select pieces from our best modern writers, calculated to eradicate vulgar prejudices and rusticity of manners, improve the understanding, rectify the will, purify the passions, direct the minds of youth to the pursuit of proper objects, and to facilitate their reading, writing, and speaking the English language with elegance and propriety

by John Hamilton Moore

DISTRACTION.

Mercy!—I know it not—for I am miserable.
I'll give thee misery—for here she dwells,
This is her house—where the sun never dawns:
The bird of night sits screaming o'er the roof;
Grim spectres sweep along the horrid gloom;
And nought in heard, but wailings and lamenting.
Hark!—something cracks above;—it shakes—it totters!
And see—the nodding ruin falls to crush me!—
'Tis fallen—'Tis here!—I feel it on my brain!
A waving flood of bluish fire swells o'er me!
And now 'tis out—and I am drown'd in blood.—
Ha! what art thou? thou horrid headless trunk!—
It is my Hastings—See, he wafts me on!
Away I go!—I fly!—I follow thee!