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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 97, 5 October 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

Dean Swift's Rhyme. — One of Swift's rhymes on Bettesworth ('' Sweat is worth") is said to have been suggested by this circumstance : A porter brought a burden to the Dean's house while he was busy with the poem, and laboring to find a rhyme for this uncommon name, the more anxiously that Bettesworth exulted in the idea of its impossibility. The porter's demand beintr considered exorbitant, he wiped his forehead, saying with the humor of a low Irishman, " Oh, your riverance, my sweat is worth half-a- I crown!" "Ay, that it is!" exciaimel Swift. " There's half-a-crown for you." Poetical Gent. — " Halloo, Fred, what are you writing — poetry?" " Yes," said Fred, " I'm writing an owed (ode) to my tailor." "What's the time and tune \" continued Tome. "Time, 60 days," replied Fred. " It's set to notes of mine in his possession.' Thb Iron Duke ox Love. — In reply to an application on behalf of a young lady to send home a major on active duty in the Peninsula, for whom she felt so ardent an affection that 1 her life would, it was supposed, be placed in danger if her wishes should not be acceded to, the Duke wrote : — " This fortunate major now commands his battalion, and I am very apprehensive that he could not with propriety quit it at present, even though the life of this female should depend upon it. We read occasionally of desperate cases of this description, but I cannot say that I have ever yet known of a youpg lady dying of love. They contrive in some manner, to live, and look tolerably well, notwithstanding their despair and the continued absence of their lover ; and some even have been known to recover so far as to be inclined to take another lover, if the absence of the first has lasted too long. I don't suppose that your protege can ever recover so far, but I hope that she will survive the continued necessary absence of the major, and enjoy with, him hereafter many happy days.-rri'liave, &c.,~ WELi4Nt,TQK."