"THE WAY TO KEEP the Roads Clean" was The title of a special discourse to young men, delivered at the Old Baptist Meeting on Sunday last by Rev. W. J. Tomkins. After briefly alluding to the wretched state of the roads in Rushden and their need of cleansing, the rev. gentleman urged upon his hearers the "desirability of keeping the road of life clean", and preached an earnest discourse..................

SWEET RUSHDEN.
[With many apologies to Goldsmith.]

Sweet Rushden ! dirtiest village in the shire,
Where men renounce all porter, ale, and beer,
Where industry, with thrift and temperance thrive
In slush and filth immured—yet still alive.
How often have I loitered o'er thy "Green,"
And deeply mused upon the muddy scene,
How often have I dwelt on every charm:—
The savoury (?) brook that trickles by the farm,
The villagers bespattered o'er with mire
And slush that rises higher and higher;
The sickening odours fraught with every ill,
Carried by stream from summit of the hill;
The unthinking children, just let loose from school,
Trudging through ruts, or wading in a pool.
How often have I watched at close of day,
When toil, remitting, lends its turn to play,
The village train from toil and labour free,
Trudge homeward through the mud so wearily,
Slipping and sliding o'er the uneven path,
Finding in puddles a too frequent bath.
This is thy reputation in commercial marts,
Vouched for by trudgers through these miry parts;
Such are thy charms, sweet Rushden;—these are found
In undisturbed profusion scattered round.
Thy sons are quick to speak and do their part
When others' wrongs inflame their manly heart,
Oh, that some flame their hearts would now inspire,
To stay this daily wallowing in the mire.

MUDLARK.