Class FSx7ga Book.^ >U- Copyright}]" COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2010 witii funding from Tine Library of Congress littp://www.arcliive.org/details/selectionsfrompoOOsaxe SELECTIONS FROM SAXE ncr yc^/r e^ C3^ay)^&y 7 SELECTIONS FROM THE POEMS OF JOHN GODFREY SAXE BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & COMPANY 1905 : ' iCT 2S 1905 9' isw COPYRIGHT 1905 BY FRANK J. SAXE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ^ CONTENTS EARLY RISING I THE OLD CHAPEL-BELL ... 4 THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE . . .II THE BRIEFLESS BARRISTER . . 2$ MY FAMILIAR ...... 28 THE JOLLY MARINER . . . . 31 RHYME OF THE RAIL .... 36 THE MOURNER A LA MODE. . . 4O TO A BEAUTIFUL STRANGER ... 43 "IF LOVE AND LIFE WERE ONE " . 45 POST PRANDIAL VERSES . . ,. .46 TO A CLAM 50 LOOKING OUT INTO THE NIGHT . . 5 1 THE DEAD LETTER .... 53 BEREAVEMENT 55 THE SILVER WEDDING ... $6 Selections from Saxe EARLY RISING )D bless the man who first invented sleep ! " So Sancho Panza said, and so say I : And bless him, also, that he did n't keep His great discovery to himself ; nor try To make it — as the lucky fellow might — A close monopoly by patent-right ! Yes ; bless the man who first invented sleep (I really can't avoid the iteration) ; But blast the man, with curses loud and deep, Whate'er the rascal's name, or age, or station. Who first invented, and went round advising, That artificial cut-off, — Early Rising ! " Rise with the lark, and with the lark to bed," Observes some solemn, sentimental owl ;. I EARLY Maxims like these are very cheaply said ; RISING ^ , ,. r 1 /■ , But, ere you make yourself a fool or fowl, Pray just inquire about his rise and fall, And whether larks have any beds at all ! The time for honest folks to be abed Is in the morning, if I reason right ; And he who cannot keep his precious head Upon his pillow till it 's fairly light, And so enjoy his forty morning winks, Is up to knavery j or else — he drinks ! Thomson, who sung about the " Seasons," said It was a glorious thing to rise in season j But then he said it — lying — in his bed, At ten o'clock, a. m., — the very reason He wrote so charmingly. The simple fact is. His preaching was n't sanctioned by his prac- tice. 'T is, doubtless, well to be sometimes awake, — Awake to duty, and awake to truth, — But when, alas ! a nice review we take Of our best deeds and days, we find, in sooth, The hours that leave the slightest cause to weep early RISING Are those we passed in childhood or asleep ! 'T is beautiful to leave the world awhile For the soft visions of the gentle night ; And free, at last, from mortal care or guile, To live as only in the angels' sight, In sleep's sweet realm so cosily shut in. Where, at the worst, we only dream of sin ! So let us sleep, and give the Maker praise. I like the lad who, when his father thought To clip his morning nap by hackneyed phrase Of vagrant worm by early songster caught. Cried, " Served him right ! — it 's not at all surpris- ing; The worm was punished, sir, for early rising ! " THE OLD CHAPEL-BELL A BALLAD ITHIN a churchyard's sacred ground, Whose fading tablets tell Where they who built the village church In solemn silence dwell, Half hidden in the earth, there lies An ancient Chapel-Bell. Broken, decayed, and covered o'er With mouldering leaves and rust ; Its very name and date concealed Beneath a cankering crust ; Forgotten, — like its early friends. Who sleep in neighboring dust. Yet it was once a trusty Bell, Of most sonorous lung, And many a joyous wedding-peal And many a knell had rung, 4 Ere Time had cracked its brazen sides, the old CHAPEL- And broke its iron tongue, bell And many a youthful heart had danced, In merry Christmas-time, To hear its pleasant roundelay, Sung out in ringing rhyme ; And many a worldly thought been checked To list its sabbath chime. A youth — a bright and happy boy — One sultry summer's day. Aweary of his bat and ball, Chanced hitherward to stray, To read a little book he had, And rest him from his play. " A soft and shady spot is this ! " The rosy youngster cried, And sat him down beneath a tree. That ancient Bell beside ; (But, hidden in the tangled grass, The Bell he ne'er espied.) S THE OLD Anon, a mist fell on his book, CHAPEL- ^, , , . ggLL The letters seemed to stir, And though, full oft, his flagging sight The boy essayed to spur, The mazy page was quickly lost Beneath a cloudy blur. And while he marveled much at this, And wondered how it came. He felt a languor creeping o'er His young and weary frame. And heard a voice, a gentle voice. That plainly spoke his name. That gentle voice that named his name Entranced him like a spell, Upon his ear so very near And suddenly it fell, Yet soft and musical, as 't were The whisper of a bell. " Since last I spoke," the voice began, " Seems many a dreary year ! (Albeit, 't is only since thy birth the old I 've lain neglected here !) bell Pray list, while I rehearse a tale Behooves thee much to hear. " Once, from yon ivied tower, I watched The villagers around. And gave to all their joys and griefs A sympathetic sound, — But most are sleeping, now, within This consecrated ground. " I used to ring my merriest peal To hail the blushing bride ; I sadly tolled for men cut down In strength and manly pride ; And solemnly, — not mournfully, — When little children died. " But, chief, my duty was to bid The villagers repair, On each returning sabbath morn Unto the House of Prayer, 7 THE OLD And in his own appointed place CHAPEL- The Saviour s mercy snare. BELL " Ah ! well I mind me of a child, A gleesome, happy maid, Who came, with constant step, to church, In comely garb arrayed, And knelt her down full solemnly, And penitently prayed. " And oft, when church was done, I marked That little maiden near This pleasant spot, with book in hand. As you are sitting here, — She read the Story of the Cross, And wept with grief sincere. "Years rolled away, — and I beheld The child to woman grown; Her cheek was fairer, and her eye With brighter lustre shone ; But childhood's truth and innocence Were still the maiden's own. *' I never rang a merrier peal the old rr,. , . , . , CHAPEL- Than when, a joyous bride, pj-ll She stood beneath the sacred porch, A noble youth beside, And plighted him her maiden troth, In maiden love and pride. " I never tolled a deeper knell, Than when, in after years. They laid her in the churchyard here, Where this low mound appears, — (The very grave, my boy, that you Are watering now with tears !) " It is thy mother / gentle boy. That claims this tale of mine, — Thou art a flower whose fatal birth Destroyed the parent vine ! A precious flower art thou, my child, — Two LIVES WERE GIVEN FOR THINE ! " One was thy sainted mother's, when She gave thee mortal birth ; 9 THE OLD CHAPEL- BELL And one thy Saviour's, when in death He shook the solid earth ; Go ! boy, and live as may befit Thy life's exceeding worth ! " The boy awoke, as from a dream, And, thoughtful, looked around, But nothing saw, save at his feet His mother's lowly mound, And by its side that ancient Bell, Half hidden in the ground ! THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE A LEGEND OF GOTHAM TERRIBLY proud was Miss Mac- Bride, The very personification of Pride, As she minced along in Fashion's tide, ^down Broadway, — on the proper side, — When the golden sun was setting ; There was pride in the head she carried so high, Pride in her lip, and pride in her eye, And a world of pride in the very sigh That her stately bosom was fretting ; II A sigh that a pair of elegant feet, Sandaled in satin, should kiss the street, — The very same that the vulgar greet In common leather not over " neat," — For such is the common booting ; (And Christian tears may well be shed, II THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE That even among our gentlemen bred, The glorious day of Morocco is dead, And Day and Martin are reigning instead, On a much inferior footing !) Ill O, terribly proud was Miss MacBride, Proud of her beauty, and proud of her pride, And proud of fifty matters beside, That would n't have borne dissection ; Proud of her wit, and proud of her walk, Proud of her teeth, and proud of her talk, Proud of " knowing cheese from chalk," On a very slight inspection ! Proud abroad, and proud at home. Proud wherever she chanced to come, When she was glad, and when she was glum j Proud as the head of a Saracen Over the door of a tippling shop ! — Proud as a duchess, proud as a fop, " Proud as a boy with a bran-new top," Proud beyond comparison ! VI What Lowly meant she did n't know, For she always avoided "everything low," With care the most punctilious, And queerer still, the audible sound Of " super-silly " she never had found In the adjective supercilious ! THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE VII The meaning of Meek she never knew, But imagined the phrase had something to do With " Moses," — a peddling German Jew, Who, like all hawkers the country through, Was a person of no position ; And it seemed to her exceedingly plain, If the word was really known to pertain To a vulgar German, it was n't germane To a lady of high condition J VIII Even her graces, — not her grace. For that was in the "vocative case," — Chilled with the touch of her icy face. Sat very stiffly upon her ; 13 THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE She never confessed a favor aloud, Like one of the simple, common crowd, But coldly smiled, and faintly bowed. As who should say : " You do me proud. And do yourself an honor ! " IX And yet the pride of Miss MacBride, Although it had fifty hobbies to ride, Had really no foundation ; But, like the fabrics that gossips devise, — Those single stories that often arise And grow till they reach a four-story size, Was merely a fancy creation ! XI That her wit should never have made her vain. Was, like her face, sufficiently plain ; And as to her musical powers. Although she sang until she was hoarse, And issued notes with a Banker's force, They were just such notes as we never indorse For any acq^uaintance of ours ! 14 XII THE PROUD Her birth, indeed, was uncommonly high, miss MACBRIDE For Miss MacBride first opened her eye Through a skylight dim, on the light of the sky ; But pride is a curious passion, And in talking about her wealth and worth She always forgot to mention her birth. To people of rank and fashion ! Of all the notable things on earth, The queerest one is pride of birth, Among our " fierce Democracie " ! A bridge across a hundred years, Without a prop to save it from sneers, — Not even a couple of rotten Peers, — A thing for laughter, fleers, and jeers, Is American aristocracy ! XIV English and Irish, French and Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and Danish, Crossing their veins until they vanish In one conglomeration 1 IS THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE So subtle a tangle of Blood, indeed, No modern Harvey will ever succeed In finding the circulation ! XV Depend upon it, my snobbish friend, Your family thread you can't ascend, Without good reason to apprehend You may find it waxed at the farther end By some plebeian vocation ; Or, worse than that, your boasted Line May end in a loop of stronger twine. That plagued some worthy relation ! XVI But Miss MacBride had something beside Her lofty birth to nourish her pride ; For rich was the old paternal MacBride, According to public rumor ; And he lived " Up Town," in a splendid square, And kept his daughter on dainty fare, And gave her gems that were rich and rare, And the finest rings and things to wear, And feathers enough to plume her ! i6 XVII An honest mechanic was John MacBride As ever an honest calHng plied, Or graced an honest ditty ; For John had worked, in his early day, In " Pots and Pearls," the legends say, And kept a shop with a rich array Of things in the soap and candle way. In the lower part of the city. THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE XVIII No rara avis was honest John (That 's the Latin for " sable swan "), Though, in one of his fancy flashes, A wicked wag, who meant to deride, Called honest John " Old Phoenix MacBride, Because he rose from his ashes ! " XIX Alack ! for many ambitious beaux ! She hung their hopes upon her nose, (The figure is quite Horatian !) ' ' " Omnia suspendens naso." 17 THE Until from habit the member grew s queer a thing as ever yc Turn up to observation ! PROUD i^jgg As queer a thing as ever you knew MACBRIDE XXII (The Muse must let a secret out, — There is n't the faintest shadow of doubt That folks who oftenest sneer and flout At " the dirty, low mechanicals," Are they whose sires, by pounding their knees, Or coiling their legs, or trades like these, Contrived to win their children ease From poverty's galling manacles.) XXIV A young attorney of winning grace Was scarce allowed to " open his face," Ere Miss MacBride had closed his case With true judicial celerity ; For the lawyer was poor, and " seedy " to boot, And to say the lady discarded his suit Is merely a double verity. i8 The last of those who came to court Was a lively beau of the dapper sort, *' Without any visible means of support," A crime by no means flagrant In one who wears an elegant coat, But the very point on which they vote A ragged fellow " a vagrant." THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE XXVI A courtly fellow was Dapper Jim, Sleek and supple, and tall and trim, And smooth of tongue as neat of limb ; And, maugre his meagre pocket, You 'd say, from the glittering tales he told. That Jim had slept in a cradle of gold, With Fortunatus to rock it ! XXVII Now Dapper Jim his courtship plied (I wish the fact could be denied) With an eye to the purse of the old MacBride, And really " nothing shorter " ! 19 THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE For he said to himself, in his greedy lust, " Whenever he dies, — as die he must, — And yields to Heaven his vital trust. He 's very sure to ' come down with his dust, In behalf of his only daughter." XXVIII And the very magnificent Miss MacBride, Half in love and half in pride, Quite graciously relented ; And tossing her head, and turning her back, No token of proper pride to lack, To be a Bride without the " Mac," With much disdain, consented. XXIX Alas ! that people who 've got their box Of cash beneath the best of locks, Secure from all financial shocks, Should stock their fancy with fancy stocks, And madly rush upon Wall Street rocks, Without the least apology ; Alas ! that people whose money affairs Are sound beyond all need of repairs. Should ever tempt the bulls and bears Of Mammon's fierce Zoology ! XXX Old John MacBride, one fatal day, Became the unresisting prey Of Fortune's undertakers ; And staking his all on a single die, His foundered bark went high and dry Among the brokers and breakers ! XXXI At his trade again in the very shop Where, years before, he let it drop, He follows his ancient calling, — Cheerily, too, in poverty's spite, And sleeping quite as sound at night, As when, at Fortune's giddy height, He used to wake with a dizzy fright From a dismal dream of falling. THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE XXXII But alas for the haughty Miss MacBride ! 'T was such a shock to her precious pride. THE She could n't recover, although she tried PROUD . , ,' jyjjgg Her jadcd spirits to rally ; MACBRiDE 'rj. ^^g ^ dreadful change in human aflEairs From a Place " Up Town " to a nook " Up Stairs," From an Avenue down to an Alley ! XXXIII 'T was little condolence she had, God wot, From her " troops of friends," who had n't for- got The airs she used to borrow ; They had civil phrases enough, but yet 'T was plain to see that their " deepest regret " Was a different thing from Sorrow ! xxxiv They owned it couldn't have well been worse. To go from a full to an empty purse ; To expect a reversion and get a " reverse " Was truly a dismal feature ; But it was n't strange, — they whispered, — at all; That the Summer of pride should have its Fall Was quite according to Nature ! XXXV And one of those chaps who make a pun As if it were quite legitimate fun To be blazing away at every one With a regular double-loaded gun — Remarked that moral transgression Always brings retributive stings To candle-makers, as well as kings ! And making light of cereous things Was a very wick-ed profession ! THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE XXXVI And vulgar people, the saucy churls. Inquired about "the price of Pearls," And mocked at her situation ; " She was n't ruined, they ventured to hope Because she was poor, she need n't mope, - Few people were better off for soap, And that was a consolation ! " XXXVII And to make her cup of woe run over, Her elegant, ardent, plighted lover Was the very first to forsake her ; 23 THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE He quite regretted the step, 't was true, The lady had pride enough for two. But that alone would never do To quiet the butcher and baker ! XXXVIII And now the unhappy Miss MacBride, The merest ghost of her early pride, Bewails her lonely position ; Cramped in the very narrowest niche, Above the poor, and below the rich, Was ever a worse condition ? MORAL Because you flourish in worldly affairs, Don't be haughty, and put on airs, With insolent pride of station ! Don't be proud, and turn up your nose At poorer people in plainer clo'es, But learn, for the sake of your soul's repose. That wealth 's a bubble, that comes — and goes ! And that all Proud Flesh, wherever it grows, Is subject to irritation ! 24 THE BRIEFLESS BARRISTER A BALLAD N Attorney was taking a turn, In shabby habiliments drest; His coat it was shockingly worn, And the rust had invested his vest. His breeches had sviffered a breach, His linen and worsted were worse ; He had scarce a whole crown in his hat, And not half a crown in his purse. And thus as he wandered along, A cheerless and comfortless elf, He sought for relief in a song. Or complainingly talked to himself : — *' Unfortunate man that I am ! I 've never a client but grief : The case is, I 've no case at all, And in brief, I 've ne'er had a brief! 25 THE " I 've waited and waited in vain, BRIEFLESS . , _ , Expecting an ' opening to rind, B ARRIS TER Where an honest young lawyer might gain Some reward for toil of his mind. " 'T is not that I 'm wanting in law. Or lack an intelligent face. That others have cases to plead, While I have to plead for a case. " O, how can a modest young man E'er hope for the smallest progression, — The profession 's already so full Of lawyers so full of profession ! " While thus he was strolling around. His eye accidentally fell On a very deep hole in the ground, And he sighed to himself, " It is well ! " To curb his emotions, he sat On the curbstone the space of a minute. Then cried, " Here 's an opening at last ! " And in less than a jiffy was in it ! 26 Next morning twelve citizens came the /.rr. , , , , ,. BRIEFLESS ( 1 was the coroner bade them attend), barris- To the end that it might be determined "^^^ How the man had determined his end ! " The man was a lawyer, I hear," Quoth the foreman who sat on the corse. "A lawyer? Alas ! " said another, " Undoubtedly died of remorse ! " A third said, " He knew the deceased, An attorney well versed in the laws, And as to the cause of his death, 'T was no doubt for the want of a cause." The jury decided at length, After solemnly weighing the matter. That the lawyer was drown