BIRTHDAY.

In proposing "MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY"—by a friend.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-It is well known to all present that we have met for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the birthday of our friend Mr. and I have been called upon to say a few words on the occasion. Shall I say I could but wish it had fallen to the lot of some one more able than myself? No! I wil not, because that's an old tale, and one that nobody ever believes; so being requested to say a few words, I will at once proceed, for I like a birthday, and I am always

Pleased to look forward, pleased to look behind,
And count each birthday with a grateful mind.

And it is a source of great pleasure for me to be present on the
anniversary of our friend's natal day. It is not the first time, and I
trust it will not be the last time, that I shall have the honour of
being at the celebration of the event. And I see many happy
smiling faces around me that have been in the habit of meeting here
before. Our worthy friend is so well known to you all, that little is
left for me to say on his behalf; I wish, in all sincerity, that he may
have many, very many, happy returns of the day, and I know that
you all participate in that wish. I know that you all have the
greatest possible respect for his welfare; and when I see, year after
year, the old familiar faces assembled for the purpose of congratulat-
ing him, I feel convinced that you still continue to hold him as
your friend.
It is, perhaps, one of the pleasantest things in this life
to meet one another's friends and acquaintances so often at the same
board, as it shows that there is a great repect and friendship on
each side; I am sure that we have had a pleasant evening, and one
that will bear the morning's reflection. May our friend Mr.
continue in the enjoyment of good health, together with his wife
and family, for many years to come; and, in conclusion, you will
please to join me, bumper in hand, in wishing him "many happy
returns of the day," and—

Happy are we met,

Happy have we been,
Happy may we part,
And happy meet again.

Response by the person whose health and "Many Happy Returns of the Day" have been proposed.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-I feel myself, by your kindness, placed in a peculiar and perplexing predicament. You have drunk to my health, and " many happy returns of the day"—that is, my birthday, but

'Tis, alas! too clear,

"Tis but the funeral of another year.

For

But as each succeeding year rolls round, I seem happier in the enjoyment of my friends and acquaintance. Believe me, I am pleased to see you all again, although, since we were last assembled, another year has been added to my account in Life's ledger. your kindness in proposing my health, and for your good wishes, I sincerely thank you all; and am happy to see around me so many of my old friends, some of whom I have known from earliest childhood, and am therefore proud that I have continued to have their respect and friendship for so lengthened a period. I can assure you all, that I feel that I have not words adequate to express my feelings on this occasion; but I know you will excuse me, and take the will for the deed. I thank you all; I can say no more—my words fail

me.

LADIES AND Gentlemen,-For the honour you have done me in proposing and drinking my health, I return you my best thanks. I am quite unprepared to make a speech for the occasion, not being accustomed to it; but, nevertheless, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without rising to thank you all for your kindness; and, believe me, I feel that this is the happiest moment of my life-to be surrounded by my friends, both old and new. It is gratifying, at all times, to meet at the social board with the friends we esteem and love, and in whom we feel a confidence that their expressions of kindly feeling and friendship are sincere; but on such an occasion as this, which, as one of the "milestones of life," marks our progress through this world, it is doubly pleasing to meet with those by whose sympathy and friendship we are enabled to pass pleasantly through what might otherwise be a dull and dreary road. And now, in conclusion, I wish you all health and happiness, and once more thank you for your kindness, which I fear I cannot sufficiently do; for

Beggar that I am! I am even poor in thanks!
But I thank you.

My birthday!-what a different sound
That word had in my youthful ears!

And now, each time the day comes round,
Less and less white its mark appears.

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, thus it is, and ever will be, that when we are young we want to be old, and when we are old we want to be young. A boy says, When I'm a man!-a man, When I was a boy! In our youth we should like to have two birthdays in one year, in our middle age but one in two years. But our youth and manhood we owe to our country-our declining years are due to ourselves.

CONVIVIAL.

Toast.-"THE FOUNDERS OF THE FEAST."-By a Friend of the Family.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-Before we break up this pleasant party, I have a desire to say a few words. We have all been entertained in the most liberal manner by our respected friends, Mr. and Mrs. "The Founders of the Feast." I therefore think we should be wanting in our duty, did we not acknowledge to them our thankfulness for the kindness displayed on their part to us this evening. I am sure it will meet with the approbation of the company, when I inform you that I rise to propose their good health. The many virtues and good qualities possessed by our friends, Mr. and Mrs. I feel convinced are well known to

you all; I am, therefore, saved the trouble of debating upon them. Mr. and Mrs. have only to be known to be respected and appreciated. The splendid entertainment provided for us this evening is but one of the many good and kind things they are in the habit of doing; and it may be fairly said of Mr. who is as good a specimen of the "Fine Old Englishman" as you will find in a day's march, that while he feasted with the great, he ne'er forgot the small. His poorer and less fortunate neighbours can testify to his goodness of heart; and many families have had their domestic circle gladdened by his kindness and unostentatious charity. It may be truly said that he is one of those who "do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame." I have had the honour of being long acquainted with our "mutual friend." We have enjoyed each other's society for many years past, and through the whole course of my life I never met with a more "happy family" than his; and I may mention that Mrs. and the Misses much respected by the whole district. These pleasant gatherings, like the one of this evening, are always spoken of with pleasure; and, whether as the "Founders of the Feast," or visitors to similar entertainments, they are always looked upon with pleasure and delight. That Mr. and Mrs. may long live to enjoy the respect and good wishes of their friends--that the remaining portion of their journey through this life may be pleasant and comfortable, I am sure is the wish of all present. That their sons and daughters may grow up and walk in the footsteps of their parents, we all desire to see. With respect to this evening's entertainment, they all deserve our warmest thanks. It has been "the feast of reason and the flow of soul"-a gathering of convivial spirits-a meeting of friends and neighbours; and I would say, Here's to our next merry meeting!" and conclude by proposing the health of Mr. and Mrs. "The Founders of the Feast.'

are

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-Mr. and Mrs.

our worthy and respected host and hostess, are much beloved by all who have the happiness of being acquainted with them. The whole of the surrounding district is full of praise (and well it may be) of the many excellences possessed by them. They have a very large circle of friends, by whom they are held in great esteem. Of Mr. it might fairly be said of him that he is

Therefore

So good, so just, so great,
That at his birth the heavenly council paused,
And then at last cried out, "This is a man!"

To the health I'm now proposing,
Let's have one full glass at least;

No one can think 't imposing

'Tis "The Founders of the Feast."

Response by the Host in acknowledging the Toast of "The Founders of the Feast."

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-In rising to acknowledge your kindness in drinking our healths, which was proposed to you by my worthy and old-esteemed friend, Mr. I feel that I want

words to express myself in proper terms. I can say that I am much obliged to you all for the flattering manner in which you have responded to the toast: I can assure you that we have no greater pleasure in this life than that of meeting our friends and neighbours. I am convinced that these little gatherings go a long way in cementing friendship; I know of no better way of rightly understanding each other than such entertainments as we have had to-night. We --that is, my wife and self-are well repaid if we have afforded you any pleasure and conviviality. Mrs. and our daughters

seem never happier than when they are making preparations for a little party. We are at all times pleased to see our friends. I can but acknowledge that I am flattered by the manner in which you have drunk our good healths. To my old friend, Mr. I have to be thankful for the kind way in which he put the toast to you, and for the kind things he said of me and mine. We have known each other for many, many years-more than we in the common course of nature can expect to do again. I have found him a good and true friend. I have to be thankful to him for many past favours and counsels, which I have ever found to be wise and good. To you, my friends, I return my sincere thanks for the kind and handsome manner in which you have proposed my health and that of Mrs. and in return, I do not know that I can do better than propose the health of Mr. I have before observed that he is an old friend of mine, and he is so well known and respected by you all that it leaves me but little to say on his behalf, and if I were to speak for an hour I could not inform you of more than you already know of him; therefore, without any further remarks, I will conclude with proposing "Health, long life, and happiness to

Mr.

Health of a Meritorious Individual.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN,-Taking an opportunity afforded now before you recommence the harmony of the evening, I trust you will grant me permission to propose you a toast.

Honour has been done to-night, I must say, with an unsparing hand. The Queen, the Prince, the Army, the Navy, the Church, our Magistrates, our Members, and others, have received their share, but there is one gentleman here to-night who in my estimation has a large demand upon his fellow-men, and is deserving of all honour at our hands, for the manly, straightforward, and upright conduct that has governed all his actions: the gentleman allude to is

Mr.

shows me I did

for

Gentlemen, I thank you for this applause; not err in my judgment of the character of Mr. —, nor in your estimation of it. I have had the honour of knowing Mr. a long series of years, and, having been closely associated with him in many transactions, can fearlessly aver a more honest man does not exist, a better father, or a more sincere friend. For his deeds of charity, let the poor speak, and their tongue is legion. Of all that should become a man, Mr. stands possessed; and when we toast the great, the brave, the wise, and the sacred, the worthy must not be forgotten: so, then, Mr. Chairman, I shall thank you to order bumpers for the toast, "The Good Health of Mr.

Toast.-"HEALTH OF THE CHAIRMAN."-By the Vice-Chairman or a Friend.

GENTLEMEN,-In due course the lot has fallen on me to propose the next toast. I am delighted at the opportunity afforded me to do honour to the chair; and although there be many whose abilities better qualify them for the task, no man will I yield to for sincerity. Our Chairman, gentlemen, has been known to some of you for many years, and therefore, of his private worth I need not speak further than this, that the more one knows of him, the better one likes him; for the manner in which he has ruled for our comfort to-night, let his acts speak for him: maintaining order, yet with that suavity of manner, obedience is enforced. He, ever ready with smart repartee and joke, his presence makes a continual feast. Such is the gentleman who has presided at our festive board to-day; he it is whom we delight to honour, and of whom, in the language of Shakspeare, it may be said,—

A merrier man,
Within the limits of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal.

Gentlemen,-"The Chairman."