sir !) There is n't another creature living She's married since, - a parson's wife ; Would do it, and prove, through every disaster, 'T was better for her that we should part, So fond, so faithful, and so forgiving Better the soberest, prosiest life To such a miserable, thankless master! Than a blasted home and a broken heart. No, sir ! -- see him wag his tail and grin! I have seen her ? Once : I was weak and spent By George ! it makes my old eyes water ! - On the dusty road, a carriage stopped ; That is, there's something in this gin But little she dreamed, as on she went, That chokes a fellow. But no matter ! Who kissed the coin that her fingers dropped ! We'll have some music, if you 're willing, You've set me talking, sir ; I'm sorry ; And Roger (hem! what a plague a cough is, It makes me wild to think of the change! What do you care for a beggar's story? Shall march a little. Start, you villain ! Is it amusing? you find it strange ? Stand straight ! 'Bout face ! Salute your offi- I had a mother so proud of me! cer! ’T was well she died before - Do you know Put up that paw! Dress! Take your rifle ! If the happy spirits in heaven can see (Some dogs have arms, you see !) Now hold The ruin and wretchedness here below? your Cap while the gentlemen give a trifle, Another glass, and strong, to deaden To aid a poor old patriot soldier ! This pain ; then Roger and I will start. I wonder, has he such a lumpish, leaden, March ! Halt! Now show how the rebel shakes Aching thing in place of a heart? When he stands up to hear his sentence. He is sad sometimes, and would weep, if he could, Now tell us how many drams it takes No doubt, remembering things that were, To honor a jolly new acquaintance. A virtuous kennel, with plenty of food, Five yelps, — that 's five; he's mighty knowing ! And himself a sober, respectable cur. The night's before us, fill the glasses ! – Quick, sir! I'm ill, — my brain is going ! I'm better now; that glass was warming. Some brandy, there! - it You rascal ! limber your lazy feet ! passes ! We must be fiddling and performing For supper and bed, or starve in the street. Why not reform ? That's easily said ; Not a very gay life to lead, you think? But I've gone through such wretched treat- But soon we shall go where lodgings are free, ment, And the sleepers need neither victuals nor Sometimes forgetting the taste of bread, drink; And scarce remembering what meat meant, The sooner the better for Roger and me! That my poor stomach 's past reform ; J. T. TROWBRIDGE. And there are times when, mad with thinking, I'd sell out heaven for something warm To prop a horrible inward sinking. THE POOR MAN AND THE FIEND. thank you, Is there a way to forget to think? A FIEND once met a humble man The same old story ; you know how it ends. Where music circled sweet ; You need n't laugh, sir ; they were not then heart, From frost and darkness screened, I was one of your handsome men ! Till his brain grew mad beneath the joy, And he worshipped before the fiend. If you had seen her, so fair and young, Whose head was happy on this breast ! Ah ! well if he ne'er had knelt to that fiend, If you could have heard the songs I sung For a taskmaster grim was he ; When the wine went round, you would n't have And he said, “One half of thy life on earth guessed I enjoin thee to yield to me; That ever I, sir, should be straying And when, from rising till set of sun, From door to door, with fiddle and dog, Thou hast toiled in the heat or snow, Ragged and penniless, and playing Let thy gains on mine altar an offering be"; To you to-night for a glass of grog ! And the poor man ne'er said “No!” T. DECKER. The poor man had health, more dear than gold ; Canst drink the waters of the crispéd spring ? Stout bone and muscle strong, O sweet content ! That neither faint nor weary grew, Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine To toil the June day long; own tears? And the fiend, his god, cried hoarse and loud, O punishment ! “Thy strength thou must forego, Then he that patiently want's burden bears Or thou no worshipper art of mine"; No burden bears, but is a king, a king ! And the poor man ne'er said “No!” O sweet content ! O sweet, O sweet content! Work apace, apace, apace, apace ; Three children blest the poor man's home, Honest labor bears a lovely face ; Stray angels dropped on earth, — Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny ! The fiend beheld their sweet blue eyes, And he laughed in fearful mirth : Bring forth thy little ones," quoth he, “My godhead wills it so ! SWEET IS THE PLEASURE. SWEET is the pleasure Itself cannot spoil ! A young wife sat by the poor man's fire, Is not true leisure One with true toil ? Thou that wouldst taste it, Still do thy best ; * Come, mix the cup of woe, Use it, not waste it, – Did thy young wife drain it to the dregs”; Else 't is no rest. And the poor man ne'er said “No!” Wouldst behold beauty 0, misery now for this poor man ! Near thee? all round? O, deepest of misery! Only hath duty Next the fiend his godlike reason took, Such a sight found. And amongst beasts fed he ; Rest is not quitting And when the sentinel mind was gone, The busy career ; He pilfered his soul also ; Rest is the fitting And – marvel of marvels !— he murmured not; Of self to its sphere. The poor man ne'er said “No!” "T is the brook's motion, Now, men and matrons in your prime, Clear without strife, Children and grandsires old, Fleeing to ocean Come listen, with soul as well as ear, After its life. This saying whilst I unfold ; 0, listen ! till your brain whirls round, Deeper devotion And your heart is sick to think, Nowhere hath knelt; That in England's isle all this befell, Fuller emotion Heart never felt. The highest and best ; 'T is onwards ! unswerving, THE HAPPY HEART. And that is true rest. JOHN SULLIVAN DWIGHT. Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers ? O sweet content ! THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree To add to golden numbers, golden numbers ? The village smithy stands ; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands ; And the muscles of his brawny arms Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny ! Are strong as iron bands. REV. MR. MACLELLAN. |