A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 75

That th' age to come, and children which Are to be borne might know; That they might rise up and the same Unto their children show.

That they upon the mighty G.o.d Their confidence might set: And G.o.ds works and his commandment Might keep and not forget,

And might not like their fathers be, A stiffe, stout race; a race That set not right their hearts: nor firme With G.o.d their spirit was.

The Bay Psalm-Book underwent many changes in the various editions through which it pa.s.sed, nor was this psalm left untouched, as will be seen by referring to the twenty-sixth edition, published in 1744, and to the edition of 1758, revised and corrected, with additions, by Mr. Thomas Prince.

2.--_Watts's Version_.

The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Isaac Watts were first published in this country by Dr. Franklin, in the year 1741. His version is as follows:--

Let children hear the mighty deeds Which G.o.d performed of old; Which in our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.

He bids us make his glories known, His works of power and grace, And we'll convey his wonders down Through every rising race.

Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs, That generations yet unborn May teach them to their heirs.

Thus shall they learn in G.o.d alone Their hope securely stands, That they may ne'er forget his works, But practise his commands;

3.--_Brady and Tate's Version_.

In the year 1803, the Seventy-eighth Psalm was first printed on a small sheet and placed under every plate, which practice has since been always adopted. The version of that year was from Brady and Tate's collection, first published in London in 1698, and in this country about the year 1739. It was sung to the tune of St.

Martin's in 1805, as appears from a memorandum in ink on the back of one of the sheets for that year, which reads, "Sung in the hall, Commencement Day, tune St. Martin's, 1805." From the statements of graduates of the last century, it seems that this had been the customary tune for some time previous to this year, and it is still retained as a precious legacy of the past. St.

Martin's was composed by William Tans'ur in the year 1735. The following is the version of Brady and Tate:--

Hear, O my people; to my law Devout attention lend; Let the instruction of my mouth Deep in your hearts descend.

My tongue, by inspiration taught, Shall parables unfold, Dark oracles, but understood, And owned for truths of old;

Which we from sacred registers Of ancient times have known, And our forefathers' pious care To us has handed down.

We will not hide them from our sons; Our offspring shall be taught The praises of the Lord, whose strength Has works of wonders wrought.

For Jacob he this law ordained, This league with Israel made; With charge, to be from age to age, From race to race, conveyed,

That generations yet to come Should to their unborn heirs Religiously transmit the same, And they again to theirs.

To teach them that in G.o.d alone Their hope securely stands; That they should ne'er his works forget, But keep his just commands.

4.--_From Belknap's Collection_.

This collection was first published by the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, at Boston, in 1795. The version of the Seventy-eighth Psalm is partly from that of Brady and Tate, and partly from Dr.

Watts's, with a few slight variations. It succeeded the version of Brady and Tate about the year 1820, and is the one which is now used. The first three stanzas were written by Brady and Tate; the last three by Dr. Watts. It has of late been customary to omit the last stanza in singing and in printing.

Give ear, ye children;[62] to my law Devout attention lend; Let the instructions[63] of my mouth Deep in your hearts descend.

My tongue, by inspiration taught, Shall parables unfold; Dark oracles, but understood, And owned for truths of old;

Which we from sacred registers Of ancient times have known, And our forefathers' pious care To us has handed down.

Let children learn[64] the mighty deeds Which G.o.d performed of old; Which, in our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.

Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs; That generations yet unborn May teach them to their heirs.

Thus shall they learn in G.o.d alone Their hope securely stands; That they may ne'er forget his works, But practise his commands.

It has been supposed by some that the version of the Seventy-eighth Psalm by Sternhold and Hopkins, whose spiritual songs were usually printed, as appears above, "at ye end of their Bibles," was the first which was sung at Commencement dinners; but this does not seem at all probable, since the first Commencement at Cambridge did not take place until 1642, at which time the "Bay Psalm-Book," written by three of the most popular ministers of the day, had already been published two years.

SHADY. Among students at the University of Cambridge, Eng., an epithet of depreciation, equivalent to MILD and SLOW.--_Bristed_.

Some ... are rather _shady_ in Greek and Latin.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 147.

My performances on the Latin verse paper were very _shady_.--_Ibid._, p. 191.

SHARK. In student language, an absence from a recitation, a lecture, or from prayers, prompted by recklessness rather than by necessity, is called a _shark_. He who is absent under these circ.u.mstances is also known as a shark.

The Monitors' task is now quite done, They 've pencilled all their marks, "Oth.e.l.lo's occupation's gone,"-- No more look out for _sharks_.

_Songs of Yale_, 1853, p. 45.

SHEEPSKIN. The parchment diploma received by students on taking their degree at college. "In the back settlements are many clergymen who have not had the advantages of a liberal education, and who consequently have no diplomas. Some of these look upon their more favored brethren with a little envy. A clergyman is said to have a _sheepskin_, or to be a _sheepskin_, when educated at college."--_Bartlett's Dict. of Americanisms_.

This apostle of ourn never rubbed his back agin a college, nor toted about no _sheepskins_,--no, never!... How you'd a perished in your sins, if the first preachers had stayed till they got _sheepskins_.--_Carlton's New Purchase_.

I can say as well as the best on them _sheepskins_, if you don't get religion and be saved, you'll be lost, teetotally and for ever.--(_Sermon of an Itinerant Preacher at a Camp Meeting_.)--_Ibid._

As for John Prescot, he not only lost the valedictory, but barely escaped with his "_sheepskin_."--_Yale Lit. Mag._, Vol. X. p. 74.

That handsome Senior ... receives his _sheepskin_ from the dispensing hand of our worthy Prex.--_Ibid._, Vol. XIX. p. 355.

When first I saw a "_Sheepskin_,"

In Prex's hand I spied it.

_Yale Coll. Song_.

We came to college fresh and green,-- We go back home with a huge _sheepskin_.

_Songs of Yale_, 1853, p. 43.

SHIN. To tease or hector a person by kicking his shins. In some colleges this is one of the means which the Soph.o.m.ores adopt to torment the Freshmen, especially when playing at football, or other similar games.

We have been _shinned_, smoked, ducked, and accelerated by the encouraging shouts of our generous friends.--_Yale Banger_, Nov.

10, 1846.

SHINE. At Harvard College this word was formerly used to designate a good recitation. Used in the phrase, "_to make a shine_."