■^_ -••••- a^' ♦i- 5 VAq^ a. 4" '^ •^ ^"^' »^^ i^-n^. HO<. '° .*^' •'^ ,*..'••. *< A^^ V. O hO 3 A*^ c""*-* *<^ V * 0^ i-^^l* ^^-^^^ N ' AV n hope for future bliss If Nature hath no moral couched in this Refreshing thought, reviving, cheering, good. If coming spring revive the tiny bud. Say why, oh ! man, say why so slow to learn 't Why not revive the ashes of the urn"? If not, then life is but a hideous death, A blot, a crime to him who gave me breatli. Does this poor transient life fulfill the whole? Is there no realm to satisfy the soul? Those prisoners in a crumbling liouse of clay Our thoughts, released, would gladly soar away. And in that great unbounded space abroad, Survey the wondrous works and waj's of God . How sad our case when to our troubled breasts Hope comes no more most welcome of all guests. Hath Nature bade us hopeless yearn and sigh. Or made a want she would not gratify? Why grope we here, "twixt doubt and hope so long; Why choose we right, yet do the grossest wrong? Why wage we here tliis vain unequal strife. If not to rise to higher forms of lil'e? Are there not lives, like banners, half unfurled. Barks foundered ''freight half given to the world," Or like a courier lying dumb and cold. Some message to an anxious race half told. Fond friendships like the forest tempesi torn. And riven hearts oft left to bleed and mourn. Hard lessons, yet, without resultant good, Ambitions stifled at their very flood. Oppression sore, and grievous to be borne. The pomp of wealth, its pride and cruel Scorn! Our humblust claims in life are set aside, And oil! our sacred trusts how oft betrayed! Our brightest hours are ever wing'd the fleetest. And all that's sweet is lost, lost when sweetest. And we have joj's no words have yet revealed, And woes so deep tliat e'en our li^js are sealed. Our joys come like the bubbles on a stream, A moment full, then vanish as a dream. And there are souls that walk beneath the moon Whose lives from early morn till highest noon Are but strange missions here of unmixed sorrow, Who date their hopes away, some bright to-morrow. Oh. human bliss, how brief thy longest stay. Scarce here ere swiftly winged upon thy way Illusive as a mirage in the sky. That of*^^ hath cliarmed tlie wondering gazer's eye. Art thou a glimpse, a sweet foretaste of Heaven, A kind decoy to struggling mortals given? Oh! tell me what I am, or whence came I. Or why I live thus doomed to fail and die, To perish like a burning taper's flame, My words, m\' thoughts, my nature and my name. Do those whose absence makes us bitter weep, Survive, or sleep, their one eternal sleepV Beyond this I'ealm of death is there a clime Wliere we can balance all the wrongs of time? Where mothers, wailing o'er the empty chnir. Ma}' find their long lost infant treasure there? Or shall we ever look again on faces Gone, gone and left us only vacant places. 'Twas by no choice of mine that I exist. Drawn by a fate no power can resist. I'm swiftly tending to that dark beyond, That "Silent Land" whose tenants ne'er respond. Does Mind result from organs finely wrought, Or must its hidden soui'ce be elsewhere sought? I have my life in common with the beast, A better brain, instinct somewhat decreased, I boast somewliat of reason iji its stead, (But whether of the twain's mo^c wisely led?) Through life I breathe vvith hlui. one c iinuion breath. And in the e'ld I die vvith biin one common death. B.)th tou'-'he.l Itv sorrow, I. deep staine 1 by sin. Does death end all for him? real life begin Witli me? Is .Mind the essence pure of all we see. The earne-it, promise, pledge. Thou Still Shall BE? Doth life through endless forms itself renew. Evolving noblest thoughts to-day in one, Ne.Kt in the fleecy cloud or pearlv dew? Perchance a pebble, glistening 'neath the sun. The lark that wakes the morn his song to sing. The rill that trickles down the mountain side. Yea, more, the creeping worm, the humblest thing. The modest wayside flower, the ocean wide. Is r.i a sense mv sister or my brother; Til J futur,'. all my hope, the pa^t. mv mother. I long for life, away bevond the tomb. Where thoughts immortal and eternal bloom: Nor dims the light of th:it eternal noon. Where harps and lyres. ti'inm;)liant songs attune: Nor doomed to silence while I'm there, I'll view the picture thar, I paint while here. I'll want to know how fares my feiiow man; If perfect life's the goal in nature's ;)lan: To visit scenes familiar on this st ige; And wistful watch each fruitful passing age. And then no matter how or where I am, I'll want to hear good news from Uncle Sam, The next Centennial year a noble score, His charge five hundred millions may be more. And next I'm sure 'twould please me much to find, This North and South all one in heart and mind. A ballot full and free, an honest count. And best of all, no '"bloody shirt"' to flaunt. La Belle France still holding on her way. Beneath her young Republic's gently sway, Her sons abandoned all their faction hate, And 23ushing on the grand old car of state. Abandored too. that wild Utopian dream. And onward pushing like a good old team, In science let great Prussia lead the way, And Russia too in triumph see her day. The land of Wallace, Bruce of Bannockburn, For freedom's cause must take her turn. Let Erin's question like a cauldron boil, John Bull go down and Patrick hold the soil. Let woman take a nobler, better stand. And with the potent ballot in her hand, Just wage her well, a good and valliant fight. Opposing wrong, defending every right, No more the thoughtless devotee of fashion, No more the slave to mankind's baser passion; Deceit in man scarce known up n the earth, And woman brought to px'ize good honest worth. I'll want to know a thousand other things. To know about the planets, moons and rings. And other rings not quite so good or great. That clog the wheels of justice and of state. To find sweet Freedom's banner wide unfurled. •'On earth, good will to men." Throughout the world. To find full more of life and less of sorrow, To find a Golden age, the world's To-morrow. THE PILOT SHIP. [Suggested by a picture in Harper's Weekly.] fsee a bark ! 'tis night upon the sea. And the scen'e suggests a pleasing thought to me. O'er those gunwales dash the soaring billow.s. Upon the deck there stand two stalwart fellows ; Aloft in hand each holds a torch alight. Each is peering through a glass into the night. Now these are pilots come to pilot o'er 8 Some strug;gling vessel to the ever-nearing shore. They have left a city where the mansions bright And the streets are all aglow with life and light. We have asked a question — asked it long ago — And the answer liow we long and strive to know ! When the tyrant Death in cliains hath l)ound lis. And our friends are weeping anxious round us : When the last fond signal's fondly given, And the golden bowl's in &under riven. When all of life for us is done and o'er, Will the-pilots come to meet us — meet us from the mys- tic shore ? I'LL NO REGRET MY NANNIE, O. THE ITHER SIDE 'O IT. fTOOK a paper up and there I read, In plainest black and white, my Nannie wed : Sic news did gar my head all dizzy. O, And rushing thoughts did keep me busy, O. And then I tliought, I'm no much worse, if any, O, Then most guid men who lose Nannie, O : The cause of loss I cannot gather. O. 1*11 only dust around and find anither, O. There's sure anither just as kind and canny, O, For this world was never sbort a Nannie. O ; If she was false I'm better clear o' her, A fickle wife, I've aye had fear o' her. There's sure some guid amang the many, O, Why stop to greet the loss of Nannie, O : This life is just one battle fierce and Strang, How noble he who rather bears than wrang. 'Tis all in bearing that true manhood's shown, For oft our hearts are left to bleed alone. To face our foes, nor yield to any, O, 'Tis oft a good man's luck to lose his Nannie. O. Chorus. Then never while your living currents flow Should you vRgret a faitliless Nannie. O ; I vow I II not regret a Nannie. O. I swear I'll not regret a Nannie. O. 9 ELEGIAC POEM. TW'OW henceforth, sacred to tlie dead, M^ Tr) those who bitter vveep and mourn, (Jr those who weary hither tread. To rest liere in appointed turn Alike, the breath of fiow'ry May, To them. aUke the winter's gloom. Alike, the dull cold autuum day. No change disturbs the silent tomb. Here rank and cast are laid aside. The cotter's like the millionaire : The motives of our lives are tried. Nor bribes, tiie least, avail us here. Here, slumbering in his lowly bed. While seasons endless come and go. Shall rest the aged Pilgrim's bend. Through summer's he.it and winter's sncnv. He, in this land of shadows dim, Of sightless eyes and organs dumb. His sons unknown, unthought by him. To rank and short-lived honors come. And here shall sleep the babe, new born. The stalwart man, in prime of life. The loved one from the lover torn. The husband and the fait ful wife. The ])rattling child, the household's pride. Its light and joy, its fairest flower. To this dark Ijourne must turn aside. Low laid in death's untimely hour. And yovilh enwrapped in Hope's fond dream, (The nec^tar in the blighted flower. A liubble burst U[)on the stream), Low laid by death's relentless powei'. And bera shall come the lovely bride, Upon her lips, half-uttered vows ; To rest forever by her si)U reward him fairly OV Oh, do you jilt him sairl}'. O. And ca' him daft — And then repent it early O ":' I've kenned it aft. .Show me the man o" worth and grace That finds a lass "-o suit his case. 11 Or finds tliat treasure "inniii; your race. That treasure fair The ■' wise uiaii "' ran s in iiijihest place — A ruby rare. Wliat lionied words slie'll tell him ; Wi' witching ways, she'll buy and sell him And then, awa' ivi" some poor skellum ! xi victim she. A fickless buke, in o-dd aiid vellum. Poor victim he! While she pursues, 'tis well with him, Bixt just reversed, his hopes grow dim . Her head takes uj) another whim. Be was too cheap: When he desponds, her joys at brim : She sows, she'll reap. Suppose two suitors, you at stake. True man tlie one, and one a rake, Now tell me honest, which you'd take, 'Side issues equal. Upon the last I'd millions stake And bide the sequel. You choose mere brass, reject pure gold, A lie is truth when smoothly told. Nor dream how cheap yourself is told. Till cast awav ; Then comes that tale so often told, "You've had your day." Ye tamp^•r wi' a guikled bait. 'Ti 1 ])rudence speaks, but speaks too late ; The die you've cast, or dared a fate Not oft averted All men are olijects of your hate ! Your love's inverted. I've often kenned ye get to:.'etlur. And for twa guide lang hours blather Aliout some wim wi' ane anither Wi' unco zest That in a scale might tip a feather, Just th'i at best. Ye'll clack and cackle o'er a bonnet, As though the vvorl' depended on it. 12 Sole care to buy a rlre.-s and don' it. Nor heed the bill, Much less tlie toil and care that won it. Through good and ill. Here on life's stage a part is true, We '• speak our piece." or play it through. .Mankind cajole and " taffy " vou : Tis truth I tell. I show the good and evil, too ; It's just as well. Thrice happy for our hapless race. If e'er it reach that happy case. When sex on sex dependence place ; O, rich reward. When sex to sex less oft proves base Bv deed or word. While mortals here we're tossed and driven Our hearts l)owed down and sorrow riven. If e'er there conies a breath from Heaven That thrills the soul, 'Tis when that magic 1ouch is given, When love makes whole. Once in the fields of Eden fair, Unknown a tear ; untouched by care, Ere woman, thou, or sin cam'st there, Wi'thy thravvn brood, Whose deep laid plots, and schemes luifair Supplanted good. I reigned proud laird, o' bird and brute, 'Till " clooty " showed the cloven cloot. Then I and thou got " fired out;" Thou ken'st fu' well When sin came there, thou wast the root 'Twas planned in Hell. Thy lug to flattery, aye awake. Thou gossip'dst with a squirming snake, Anddil'st although forbidden, take That cursed bait Then came and blathered like a L'lake. And sealed my fate. When awfu' wars lay waste the earth, And famine comes, and dreadful dearth. 13 Man sore laments that thou had'st birth Thou root of evil, Too great the cost for a' thou'st worth. Thou angel d — 1. But man, what woes the fates allot him, The thief that robs, the snai-e that caught liim, The suicide, t'^e '' thug." that shot him. All sums up tliis : " A woman somewhere at the bottom." Here ends his bliss. Yet man, why at thy lot repine. Why thus lament this fate of thine ; This solace take, this solace mine It comforts me, The bruised grape alone yields wine. So comfort thee. POSTSCRIPT. Now one of two maun always squeal, So I propose gin ye think weel, To lend my lance o' burnished steel, I"ve ane to spare It gives a prod that ane can feel, T'were only fair [ A. satire on man was written in reply to this satire on woman, but it was a mere literary jvimble, consequently could not be published. There are two sides to every question. Man and woman are perhaps equally to blame for the difficulties that exist between them, and there is no hope of a better state of affairs until the race has risen to a higher plane of moral integrity.] SOME THINGS SAD TO SEE. MAIDEN blighted in her love ; Strong manhood stricken in its prime : A hawk pounce down upon a dove ; A child born 'ere its proper time ; A sweet flower blighted in a day ; A bright life end midst clouds and gloom A i-omping child forbid to play ; Infirm old age without a home. 14 THE BONNIE BELLES O' BRADFORD. ^^^HEY look so sweet, 'tis complete for one to meet. JlU No matter where those treasures rare, those angels fair. By Heaven sent, so kindly lent, for man's content. Those lasses in their teens, Those bonnie belles o' Bradford. Our lasses i' their teens. Caressing glances, shy advances, all enhances. Sweet depend, let man attend and safe defend, By honest thrift or vengeance swift, this precious gift. Our lasses i' their teens, The bonnie belles o' Bradford, Those lasses i" their teens. Let all the city heed my ditty, love and pity, Love and charm, with feehng warm protect from harm, E'er before them, watching o'er them, still adore them, Those lasses in their teens. The bonnie belles o' Bradford, Our lasses i' their teens. But let him glower, who "buses power in passion's hour ; O'er prison bar, who ever dare their bliss to mar. Or would decoy, and then destroy that sacred joy, A lassie in her teens. The bonnie belles o' Bradford, Sweet lasses i' their teens. For well we know ('twas ever so,) that all we owe — Joys of leisure, fonts of pleasure — is to that treasure, All so smiling, with them whiling, time beguiling. Our lasses i' their teens. The bonnie Belles o' Bradford, Dear lasses i' their teens. THE HILLS OF BRADFORD. " love the bonnie hills of Bradford, Beneath those bonnie hills the winding Tuna flows ; Around those hills weird shadows fall, and sunlight glows Upon those bonnie hills of Bradford. If) I love the verdant hills of Hradford. When o'er those verdant liills the tender leaves and flowers Bursting from their tombs, and the glory of the vernal hours Decks all the verdant hills of Bradford. I love the blooming hills of Bradford. When o'er those blooming hills the breath of summer comes, When in the woody dells the milk-w hite box-tree blooms, Among the blooming hills of Bradford. I love the purple hills of Bradford When o'er those purple hills the purple blends with red. And when the purple leaf t)r faded flower has fled And left the purple hills of Bradford. I love the snowy hills of Bradford When all those snowj- hills have shed their summer dress so gay, And naught is left but leafless trees in sombre grav. Upon the snowy hills of Bradford. THE PEBBLE IN THE OCEAN. JP stood by the ocean at eve, when the waves were at is rest ; The stars were reflected like studs from its transparent breast. A pebble let fall from my hand set a ripple in motion ; The ripple set acres of waters in gentle commotion. A heavy gun'd vessel lav anchor'd some distance away, And it heaved, I know, like the tiniest bark in that bay. I said that the mind of our race just resembles the ocean — The tiniest pebble of thought sets a ripple in motion, The pepples will drop and the ocean unceasingly move, For "tis by the motion of mind that our race must im- prove. Then why should we grieve for those dogmas now pass- ing away V For dogmas like men, must decay when they've lived out their day. 16 WHO SENT THEE TO BLOOM ? " ^AY, merry robin, who sent thee to sing J) So sweetly thy soul-stirring lay r Some loved one, no doubt, is near by ; Then sing, robin, sing, while you may. When weary of fashion's cold ways, When weary of frescoes and paint. Sham friendships, and all of that sort. Conventional folk, and restraint. Away to the wild woods I fly ; Kind nature ne'er spurned me away ; The song of the robin, so sweet, And the posies beguile me to stay. Say, pretty fiovver. who sent thee to bloom, Away on this hillside so drear? I find thee neglected, alone ; What solace can comfort thee here ? Thou seemest not sad in thy life, Could mankind afford thee no room, Receiving thy perfume and smiles ? To fulfill some mission thou'st come. We each have some mission to fill ; No darkness, where love lights the way ; We each may be doing some good. In life that is fleeting away. HOPE. JHEN Hope, that lamp so bright, illumes the droop- _^0 ing mind. How soon we fling dull care and sorrow all behind. How all things change beneath her ever cheering beam ; All things alike, the sadest like the brightest seem. We brave the rudest blast that treats us illy ; Our darkness turns to day, Our winters flee away And spring returns with verdant leaf and snow-white lily. 1' But once let Hope witlihold from us her cheering beam, All things alike, the brightest like the saddest seem Alike to us, the wailing pine, the weeping willow, The trilling lark, the skipping lamb, the skimming swalIow\ We bend beneath the slightest blast that treat us illy ; Our sunlight's fled and gone. Our buds and blossoms flow^n No spring for us, with verdant leaf and snow-white lily. Then give us hope, that lamp so bright, to cheer the mind, We'll fling our cares and sorrows all behind. All things are good, the saddest like the brighest seem When Hope inspires us with her cheering beam, We'll brave the wintry blasts that treats us illy 'Till darkness turns to day, 'Till winter's fled away And spiing returns with verdant leaf and snow-white lily. NEWSBOY'S CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S GREETING. ^W'OW kind friends I would gladly greet you all, %^^ In my Christmas round, and my New Year'i call. But I need not tell, for you knew it before, How I've toiled to bring all the news to your door. At the early dawn, 'neath a starry sky. When the wind blew cold, and the drifts swept by. Though I often "made," I was sometimes " stuck," But I pushed right on, never "blamed my luck." May we often meet, as we oft have met ; As the years glide past — a hope for us yet ; In the bright New Year, so soon to come, May no shadow fall on your happy home. I will hang up my sock near my bedroom door And the reindeer man, from his wond'rous store. Will remember me and be kind to you ; Through the year I remain your newsboy true. 18 NEWSBOYS' GREETING. fK^WELVE months ago since this old year began, 3 And I start in the battle of life anew, Fo]- I ft-el, what I hoi^e. to be true, That I'm one year more, the more of a man. Now I've brought you the news from countries afar, And I've brought you the news from comitries near. Of the "boom" in oil, and the market's scare. And of earthquakes great, and the clouds of war. Then of cruel wars 'mong the " bulls "' and the "bears," Of the trusting lamb, who ventured in "ille." How he dropped his head, when he dropped his "pile,'' Weary ones shuffling this life and its cares. Towns laid waste by the scourge of fire and wind. Then how some bummer was pulled bj^ the cop^, Next of weddings so bright, and high-toned hops Of that bomber abroad, the " Dynamite Fiend." But, let me tell you what's better than all. 'Tis not so much after all. the New Year, But the long looked-for Christmas is here And I think Kris Kringle will give me a call. So I'll give you my wish. Merry Christmas cheer, To my friends every one, to my patrons all. Who buy on the street or the homes where I calf. May your lives grow briglit, through the whole New Year. SMILING THROUGH OUR TEARS. iff^pAILY tripping like a litfle sprite, A^^Airy motions, graceful form, face so bright^ Thus I met a little maiden fair. Light of heart and free from every care. How my heart went out to wish her well. When, poor thing, she, flipping lightly by, fell. Looked tiien at me, smiling through her tears. More than lovely in her tender years. Smooth I stroked and pressed her little head., Laugliing now, light away she fled. And I stood tliere musing so intent. For no words could give my feelings vent. 10 W^xir We yearn for childhood's laughing yeai's JFor its smiles to mingle with our tears. Smiles and joys, alas I long fled away, Smiles have fled and tears now long delay. Buoyant youth, now slow to think or learn ! Oft between the cradle and the urn Pass we sadly thi-ough the fleeting years, fe[appy if found smiling through our tears. THE BELLES OF BRADFORD. [In reply to the "Belles of Bradford," by B. J. B.] ^^ WOtTLD not pass the belles of Bradford ,i^ Should smiling beauty be my game — oh, no ! And if from home love-making I shall ever go, ^he most ravishing eyes I know under the skies Will tempt me to set out for Bradford. 1 would not slight the Belles of Bradford ^or those vile rubber boots which, in their care J'or their excellent health, I see them wear. And the}' can't be beat, In tbe matter of feet, In old Oildom, the belles A. few words will often express a great thought.'* Some people mistake indigestion for religion. We make money the only end of our existence : it should be only the means to a good end. Dancing is the poetry of motion ; music is the poetry of the mind. Nature is a slowly unfolding revelation, and all other revelations must abide by her final decisions. All I know of the future m.iy be written in tln-ee words— I don't know. 83 A frivolous woman worships the man that ruins her, and ruins the man that worships her. We can see everything but ourselves A logical woman and a crowing hen are rare excep- tions. Her conclusions are intuitive. Nature produces by wholesale and retains by retail. Vice performs all the dvities of judge, jury and hang- man. All men are not born equal, but all men have equal rights before the law. Lying actions are no better than lying words. What we fail to decide for ourselves others will decide for us. To disbelieve after proof is as stupid as to believe with- out proof. In our true calling we see no drudgery. Out of it, all is drudgery. Seek praise and the world will deny you the credit which is justly j'our due. At twenty we think ourselves superior to our fathers and mothers. At forty we often respect our inferiority. The miracle of Balaam's ass presents no difficulties to me. It is nothing uncommon for an ass to speak. If the bears were commissioned to devour all the dis- obedient children, they would fall benind in their orders Men do not like to believe in their ape origin, and yet nine-tenths of them are not ashamed to act the ape. The schoolmaster cultivates the back, the scholar cultivates his head, and the dancing master cultivates his heels, which is the secret of the latter's great popu- larity . The best help to give the needy is something to do. Truth needs not a body-guard. Error only needs de- fense. I have seen preachers with very fine deliveries who had nothing to deliver. Experience is the raw material wherewith the wise make proverbs. An old bacheler is one who has missed the chance of making some woman miserable. Every man and woman that is born into the world has a natural right to live in this world until they prove an enemv to their kind. 33 If there be-ii spark oi' .i^ood in .ters are drifting like flakes of snow, And the suminei's like birds between. And the years in the sheaf, how they com? and they go On the river's breast with its ebb and its flow. As it glides in the shadow and sheen ! There's a magical isle up thf river Time, Where the softest of airs are playing, There's a cloudless sky and a tropical clime. And a song as sweet as a vesper chime, And the Junes with the roses are straying. And the name of this isle is the "Long Ago," And we bury our treasures there ; There are brows of beauty and bosoms of snow, Tliere are heaps of dust — oh! we loved them so — There are trinkets and tresses of hair. 44 There are fragments of songs that nobody sings, There are parts of an infant's prayer. There's a lute unswept and a harp without strings, There are broken vows and pieces of rings. And the garments our loved used to wear. There are hands that are waved when the fairy shore By the fitful mirage is lifted in air, And we sometimes hear through the turbulent roar Sweet voices we heard in the days gone before, When the wind down the river was fair. Oh ! remembered for aye be that blessed isle. All the day of ovir life until night ; And when evennig glows with its beautiful smile, And our eyes are closing in slumbers awhile May the greenwood of soul be in sight. — Benjamin F. TayJor. YOU PUT NO FLOWERS ON PAPA'S GRAVE. » JiTH sable-draped ^banners, and slow measured ^J tread, The flower-laden ranks pass the gates of the dead ; And seeking each mound where a comrade's form rests, Leave tear-bedewed garlands to bloom on his breast. Ended at last is the labor of love ; Once more through the gateway the saddened lines move — A wailing of anguish, a sobbing of grief, Falls low on the ear of the battle-scarod chief ; Close crouched by the portal?-, a sunny-haired child Besought him in accents with grief rendered wild : " Oil ! sir. he was good, and they said he died brave — Wliy ! why ! did you jiass by my dear papa's grave ":' I knovN' he was poor, but as kind and as true As ever marched into the battle with you — His grave is so humble, no stone marks the spot. You may not have seen it. Oh, say you did not ! For my poor heart will break if you knew he was there. And thought him too lowly your offerings to share. He didn't die lowly — he poui'ed his heart's blood, In rich crimscm streams, from the top-crowning sod Of the breastworks which stood in front of the fight — And dieJ shouting ' Onward ! for God and the right ! ' 4") OVr all his dead comrades your bright garlands wave, But you haven't put one on ?n.// papa's grave. If mamma were here — bnt she lies by his side. Her wearied heart broke when our dear papa died." " Battalion ! file left ! countermarch ! " cried the chief, "This young oriihan'd maid hath full cause for her grief." Then up in his arms from the hot, dusty street. He lifted the maiden, while in through the gate The long line repasses, and many an eye Pays fresh tribute of tears to the lone orphan's sigh. "This way it is— here, sir— right under this tree : They lie close together, with just room for me." '•Halt ! Cover with roses each lowly green mound — A love pure as this makes these graves hallowed ground." "Oh ! thank you, kind sir ! T ne'er can repay The kindness you've shown little Daisy to-day ; But I'll pray for you here, each day while I live, 'Tis all that a poor soldier's orphan can give. I shall see papa soon, and dear mamma too — I dreamed so last night, and I know 'twill come true ; And they will both bless you, I know, when I say How you folded your arms round their dear one to-day — How you cheered her sad heart, and soothed it to rest. And hashed its wild throbs on your strong noble breast ; And when the kind angels shall call you to come, We'll welcome you there to our beautiful home. Where death never comes, his black banners to wave. And the beautiful flowers ne'er weep o'er a grave." — C. E. L. Holmes. THE RAVEN. i^^)NCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, ^^ weak and weary. Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, — While I nodded, nearly najiping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. '"Tis some visitor," I mutter'd, "tapping at my chamber door — Only this, and nothing more." 46 Ah distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow ; vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore, — For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore — Nameless here forever more. And t'^e silken, sad. uncertain rustling of each purple cirtain. Thrilled me, — filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before ; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood re- peating, " 'Tis some visitor enti-eating entrance, at my chamber- door. — Some late visitor entreating entrance at juy chamber- door ; That is is, and nothing more." Presently my soul grew stronger ; hesitating then no longer, *'Sir,'' said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I im- plore ; But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping. And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my cham- ber-door. That I scarce was sure I heard you"— here I opened wide the door : Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, won- dering, fearing. Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before ; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token. And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, " Lenore ! " This / whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore ! " Merely this and nothing more. 47 Back into the chamber turaia<;-. all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping, something louder tiian be- fore . "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my win- dow-lattice : Let me see then what thereat is and this mystery ex- plore, — Let my heart be still a moment, and this mysteiy ex- plore — 'Tis the wind, and nothing more." Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he ; not a minute stopped or stayed lie ; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my cham- ber-door, — Perched upon a bust of Pallas, jusi above my chamber- door — Perched and sat, and nothing more. Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smil- By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, '•Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, tliou," I said, "art sure no craven ; Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandei'ing from the nightly shore. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the night's Plutonian shore?" Quoth the raven, ' 'Nevermore ! " Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly. Though its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore ; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his cham- ber-door. Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his cham- ber-door With such name as ' 'Nevermore I " But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only 48 Tliat one word, as if Ills soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered ; not a feather then he fluttered — Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before. On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before. Then the bird said, " Nevermore ! " Startled at the stillness, broken by reply so aptly spoken, "Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store. Caught from some unhappy master, whom unmerciful disaster Follow'd fast and follow'd faster, till his songs one bur- den bore. Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore," Of— 'Never — nevermore ! " But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into saiiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door. Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking v;hat this ominous bird of yore— "What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking " Nevermore ! " Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable express- ing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core ; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease re- clining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloat- ing o'er She shall press — ah ! nevermore ! Then methouglit the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer, Swung by seraphim, whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor, "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee— by these angels he hath sent thee 49 Respite— respite and nepenthe fioui thy ineujories of I.enore I Quaff, oh (|uafF this kind nejjenthe, and forget this lost Lenore ! "' Quoth the raven "Nevermore!" '' Prophet ! "' said I, " thing of evil ! — prophet still, if bird or devil ! Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore. Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land en- chanted — On this liome by horror haunted — tell me tridy, I im- plore, — Is there -is there balm in Gilead V — tell me— tell me, 1 imjjlore ! " Quoth the raven. "Nevermore ! " *' Prophet ! " said I, " thing of evil ! — prophet still, if bird or devil ! By that heaven that bends above us, by that God we both adore. Tell this soul, with sorrow laden, if within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore ; Clasp a rare and radient maiden, whom the angels name Lenore I '" Quoth the raven, " Nevermore ! " "Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting, — *' Get thee back into the tempest and the night's Plu- tonian shore. Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken ! Leave my loneliness unbroken ! — quit the bust above mj door ! Take thv beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door ! " Quoth the raven, " Nevermore ! " And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sit- ting On the ]>aliid bust of Pallas, just above my chainber- door : 50 And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-Hght o"er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor : And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted — nevermore ! — Edgar A . Poe. THE KNIGHT OF ST. CRISPIN, OR THE LEARNED COBBLER. JPVE read somewhere, how once in by-gone days ^ That common cobblers took to learned wa5'S, Well posted up in things of church and state ; How glib they were in scientific prate. Each in his turn, for others spoke and read, Who pegged away and noted what was said. But now I have a modern cobbler in my mnd That leaves all ancient cobblers far behind. A finer Crispin never made a fit A better cobbler sure, a sprig ne'er hit, A bigger slouch ne'er lived since time began. And yet, beneath those rags there breathed a man. No theologic point for him too fine, Nor deep, not e'en the Trinity Divine. His faith was firm in trans-substantiation, To doubt was sin enough to damn a nation. Defended loud and well Old Erin's cause, Disputed England's right to frame her laws. He worshipped " Ford," and eager read his " AVorld ; " And then he doubly damned the N. Y. Herald. He roie not early, but he worked full late. And when his "crowd " came in, he rose in state, And with the eloquence of great St. Paul, His words poured forth, he vanquished all. He had his patrons, some on gilt-edge list. But some wei'e bad, their very names he hissed. " There's James Galbraith, he's true in all his ways. His word's a bond, you may depend on what he says. When work is done his money's on the mark. Thei"(''s Tom Mulvey, what shall I say, the shark. His boots are done — three months they're on my hand- Just what to do with him I'm at a stand ; 51 I wish I had, I swear, his well-tanned skin ; I swear I'd like to draw the waxed-end in. Ifs on the ' beat ' he is — I wish him luck : Just wait ! some time I"ll nab me Laddy Buck." This cobbler had a vixen of a wife, That proved a very terror to his life. She'd give him H — 1, and then skip out And leave two bairns for him to clean and clout. How oft 'tis thus with men of heart and mind, In things de-cour, to get sore left behind. What pearls attend the married state When Wisdom speaks, but speaks too late. 'Tis not in grace to keep that wedlock straight Where young Miss Early weds to Mr. Late. For he who marries much beneath his years, Takes worlds and worlds of risk on eyes and ears ; But then John's nuptials hooded much of ill, The bliss John sought, poor John is seeking still. He had, 'tis true, the lady's full consent, But when he turned his back, the ladj^ went ; For from the ordinary course of love Did John's the least exception prove. But he got round as quiet as a mouse, Tlie Squire was summoned to his humble house. He came with legal mein and earnest look, He carried too, a pen and ink and book. He said " we're here, for haste there is no need, But if all things are ready, we'll proceed." The groom looked anxious round and then replied, " The Squire, the witness, all I lack's the bride," The Squire now turned and went his way, "Go, catch the bird. I'll come another day He said, and I'll come straightway down And e'er the birdie flies I'll make you one. In this grave fact we all mvist coincide, There is no wedding where there is no bride."' The would-be groom, now searched through all the night And found the truant damsel near daylight. But now the Squire was soundly napping so He'd dreamed and dreamed of some one rapping so That night upon his bed-room window pane. And thinking 'twas a dream he dozed again ; But morning came — the Squire was prompt on hand. The witness, bride and groom were on the stand. They both were pledged for better or for worse, The sequel proves she was a bitter curse. For what she never knew she would contend, Till waxing loud, all peace was at an end. She said one day she hoped to die 53 If ought she ever met to clean a house Was half so good as consecrated lie." John stared at such expression from his spouse. He suggested concentrate for consecrate, But she maintained her word appropriate, From angry words they came to angry blow^s, And John was left to nurse a bloody nose. His church admitting no divorce. He grabbed the broom and drove her out by f< rce. Oh ! how we grieve when things oppose our mind. But in the lapse of after years we find How kindly were the rulings left to fate Those fancied pleasures that we'd scarce forego Oft prove a curse and fill our lives with woe. John's troubles came when he expected least, Then for relief he sought the parish priest. The priest, a man quite young in years, , Allayed the cobbler's greatest fears. It was too much for John upon the whole Two care two bairns for fltsh and soul ; He for his children would asylum find, With food and eai'e ju^t suited to his mind. I saw the cobbler late that very night : By his contented face saw all was right. He lit his pipe, his sorrows rolled away in smoke; He crossed his legs, and thus this cobbler spoke : '• Say, Jim, hovve'er they may, let skeptics rave, Religion is a d — d good thing to have. May'be we'er right to-day. but how's to-morrow? But this we^know, it comforts us in sorrow. I've seen in full, life's vanity and shame. And as for me, 'tis but a life in name. When all seems going for the best 'tis loss. Our gold, though durable, it seems, is dross. Our sorrows make our hearts more mellow still, Our care should be to heed our fellow's ill Through all, a work of justice and of love, And for the rest we'll trust the Man Above.'* — Anonymous. TO- A LADY FRIEND. \^ HAVE in my window a sweet little rosebud in jM^ bloom, i think this little rosebud's not blooming alone for me. So i'U vvoo it to wait till Minnie, sweet Minnie comes home, For somehow or other it seems to be blooming for thee. 53 SOME TENDER LOINS. BUTCHER loved a tender maid, To woo her were his designs, And he sent her copies of tender verse, In fact, real tenderloins. The girl, alas ! he could not suet. She would love him as a brother. But when implored to marry, said, " Tripe, please, and find another" The butcher still pursued the girl. His pleas became much bolder ; The girl at last, to find relief, Gave him a cold shoulder. He knew then that his hopes were vain, But as he left her said, ^' Since you have caused me such distress, I'll liaunch you when Tm dead." He tried in drink to drown his cares. And there found no relief. But daily grew more woe begone. You never sausage grief. At last his weary soul found rest, His sorrows now are o'er ; No fickle maid now troubles him. Pork readier, he's no more. MY LITTLE WIFE. ^^HE isn't very pretty ^W (So say my lady friends) ; She's neither wise nor witty With verbal odds and ends. No fleeting freaks of Fashion Accross her fancy run. She's never in a passion — Except a tender one. 54 Her voice is low and cooing : She listens more than speaks ; While others talk of doing, The duty near she seeks. It may be Init to burnish The sideboard's scanty plate. Or Imt with bread to furnish The beggar at the gate. So I who see what graces She sheds on lowly life. To Fashion's faire.st faces Prefer my little wife. And though at her with pity The city dames may smile. Who deem her hardly pretty And sadly out of style- To me she seems a creature So musically sweet. I would not change one feature- One curve from crown to feet. And if I could be never Her lover and her mate, I think I'd be forever The beggar at (he gate. -H. W. AiiMin. TAKING TOLL. ^^N Ihe door of the mill stood Richard Lee, ^j1?) White as an image of snow was he. From his heavy boots to his beautiful lips. From the crown of his hat to his finger-tips. Now, slo%vly jogging along the street, Di-ove farmer Brown with his grist of wheat, And witli him Bessie, fresh as the spring, And ripe as the fruits the fall months bring. While the farmer drove about the town. Young Lee gro uid the wheat and bolted it dou-n With man}' a glance at the maiden fair. Who sat bv the door in the > aken chair. At last he called her in shouting tones. And she stood by the whirling, rumbling stones, And watched the grain as it ebbed so still, Till the farmer came, but the noise of the mill Drowned the sound of his feet, and over the hopper Two heads were bent, and when Richard Lee Saw him standing there he stajnmered, " I — see — That is" — then he paused and shuffled his feet, " I think there are weevils in your wheat ! " But the farmer smiled and said, " Well, Bess, Of the two evils always choose the less."' And the maiden looked down confused and meek. With a patch of flour on one cheek ! Still the old man didn't take it ill, For he knew young Richard owned the mill. But he mused as they slowly rode away : " Well ! I've been to the mill now many a day — Say forty odd years — but bless my soul, That chap beats all of them taking toll." THE DYING SHOEMAKER. ^EAR WIFE, I'm waxing near my end," (> The dying cobbler said ; Soon to an upper world my sole Its lonely way must thi-ead. " I fear, indeed, I'm pegging out ; But then what boots it, love ? Here we've been a well-fitted pair, And so we'll be above. " My ills I know no drugs may heel. So its welt to prepare ; We can't run counter to our fate — Just put a peg in there ! " The future need not give you care, I've left my awl to you ; For deep within m\ inner sole, I know that you've been true. 50 " I've always given you your rights. But now you must be left ; However, do not grieve too much When of nie 3'ou"re bereft. " A-last farewell I now will take," He smiled and rai.sed hi-^ head ; '• B-last the cruel malady That lays you lew,' she said. " I'll slipper way in peace." he sighed, '•The strife will soon be past," His head fell back, he sweetly smiled, And then he breathed his last. THE OLD TIN DINNER PAIL. [This poem, now published for the first time, vvas written by James Holden. of Oswego, N. Y.. in 1.S5S, who carried his dinner pail to and fro for two years, a distance of four miles.] few dear to me is my tin pail, We've traveled long together, Through wind and rain and snow and liail, And dark and dreary weather. My pail with earthly bounties stored, My daily wants supply, Witli best the pantry can afford Or factory orders buy. Wnen by fatigue my strength doth fail. I to ni}^ pail resort, I'm sure to find in my tin pail Refreshments and support. Sweet pies and cakes of choicest kind, Within its bosom hid, And best of bread I always find, W^hen I take off the lid. Percliance an apple stowed away, Or cookies sweet and round. Or tarts or sweetuieats every day, In my tin pail are found. 57 And now and tlien a chicken's leg. Or choice piece of the breast, And every day a fresh-laid egg, Just taken from tlie nest. One favor of some friend I crave, Wlien life on earth shall fail. 'Mongst friendship's other tokens, save My old tin dinner pail. Then may it hang both night and day, Upon some hook or nail. And let it not with rust decay. But spare tiiat old tin pail. THE BACHELOR'S NEW YEAR SOLILOQUY. f STAND to-night like one vipon some elevated plain, And from that height in thought revie"' life's traveled road again. I'm forty years and three to-night ! how time does steal away ! And yet the dreams of youth seem like some dream of yesterday. Here from this height I view some years like hills aglow with light ; These represent those happy years to me of swift- winged tiight. And then I see some years like bills, low hung with dark- est cloud ; Those years of sorrow, years that sorrow, covered as a shroud. The brightest views I get, a shadow here and there ap- pears, Just as in youth our brightest hours were dimmed by childhood's tears. I have no doubt that there are years well known to most all men. That they would not recall or wish to live them o'er again. But here I am, this dying hovir of eighteen eighty-one, Soon numbered with foi gotten years, those years long fled and sone. 58 Yes, here I am, not sad, though lone I am, m truth to- night. My room is neat and clean, and all around me cheery bright. My clock there ticks a drowsv tick upon the mantel shelf. Reminding me that life with me is passing away itself. No kindred spirit near me now, but single, free, alone, No echo to my voice except that echo, all one's own. My thoughts run smooth as polished slides through fine- ly polished grooves. Not worried the least by hate, nor maddened by jealous loves. But why am I alone to-night, so lonely here to-night, And why my hopes, those hopes once fond, all doomed to cruel blight ? The dearest thing in all this world I think, is a child to me. Yet likely I'll never know the bliss of chikh-en at my knee. With mingling of sadness I watch them and share in their play ; 'Tis like a gleam of fair Spring-time on a chill Winter's day. I sometimes feel sad to be lone, but I'm glad to be free, For pleasure's an offset, the balance now favoring me. I go where I please, and return when I'm ready, the same. And no jealous housewife to curse me and blaspheme my name. Forbid that I ever should see my child in want of bread, Or ever the pride of my heart lie cold and pale and dead. But woman, dear woman, that riddle, that puzzle to me, When hearts are at stake and wit's in the scale I'll bet on a she. Yet one thing I've noticed while jogging along through life, The bigger the Devil the man, the more the angel, his wife For everything seeks for a balance, a rule since time be How often we find a termagant tied to the kindest man. 59 But why will a woman take and stick, stick for a vil- lain's part, When an honest man might sue in vain, in vain for her heart. Her heart goes out to the rake in the criminal box; She'll pity and throw herself away on a Chastine Cox. I've looked it all carefully over the best that I can, The conclusion is this, that woman's the savior of man. "When adversity frowns, and passed by his fellows un- blessed. He turns him in despond to woman and often finds rest. I promised in life's early day, when my race in life be- gan, That never would I mislead a woman, " God's best gift to man." And glad I'm that in all candor and conscience I can say, That I have kept my promise right up to the present day. To all good-night, good-night, for here my reveries must close, For Nature calls for a kind, a kind and a sweet repose. The bells have been ringing a sad farewell to the year just gone. A sad farewell to the dying year, to the year eighty-one. They'll ring again with a changeful tune, all cheerful and new, They'll ring out a welcome, a welcome to the year eighty-two. — Anonymous. SELF-CONVICTED. M^t)U horrid fellow ! how ever did you dare ^^ To kiss me in that fashion, disarrange my hair? You take undue advantage, no one being present, And kiss me — oh, how rude ! (but awful pleasant). " I tolJ you once before it wasn't nice, And yet, not satisfied with that, y'ou kissed me twice. Now don't do so again, -for ma will hear you, And shf'll come in and find me near yon . 60 ' ' Why don't I move away ? Quite easy that to answ er ; I'm not so timid — though a female — understand, sir ! You would not think me brave if I retreated, So here 1 shall remain, though but to be defeated. " My face is flushed I know — the air is stifling ! But why do you persist in this vain, silly trifling ? You must not kiss again ! I beg — implore ! And ma may hear — so I will close the door. DEPARTED HOPES. The following original lines were written by a young lady a short time before her death. The original copy was sent to her mother in t'^is city. %^ Y hopes have departed forever, tij^ My vision of true love is o'er ; My heart can awaken — oh ! never ; There's joy for my bosom no mor^'. The roses that crowned me are blighted, The garlands I cherished are dead, And the faith once confidingly plighted Is broken — my loved one has lied ! They saw that my life was decaying, Tliey knew that my stay would be brief, And still though my spirit was straying I told not a word of my grief ; No whisper revealed my deceiver. No ear heard me sigh or complain ; Yet my heart still adored its undoer And I longed so to meet him again. He came, but another had rifled His heart of the love once my own ; I grieved, but my anguish was stifled, After all my soul's idol is stone ! The sun is now sinking in billows Of clouds in the bleak wintry west, And morning will shine thro' the willows. And find me forever at rest. This is regarded as one of' the most remarkable cases of the kind on record, and teaches a moral lesson no young lady can afford to disregard. 61 GROWN APART ^^^NE in name, yet two in heart, ^^ Slowly, but surely, grown apart ; Saddest of all sad sights to see — Love from his own sweet bonds set free. Grown apart through the lagging years — Nor smiles, nor sighs, nOr melting tears, Shall call love's ro-e to the cheek again, Or thrill the heart with its precious pain. Grovving apart— for evermore — A canker-worm at the very core, Shorn of all the sweets of life ; An unloved husband, unloved wife. Ah well ! they have had their little day : Some flowers bloom only, and die in May ; And if these have missed the Summer's prime, And riper fruits of the Autumn time ; Knowing only the drought of one, And failing the other's blasts to shun : There jet may be garnered in each sad heart, Sheaves that have ripened and grown apkrt. — Charlotte Lennox. BLESSED DREAMS. ^HE sunset smile has left the sky, la The moon rose calm and fair, As low a little maiden knelt To breathe her nightly prayer. And thus her brief petition rose. In simple words and few ; " Dear Lord, jilease send us blessed dreams, And let them all come true." Oh I I have stood in temples grand, Where in the rainbow gloom Rose pompous prayers from priestly lips Through clouds of sweet perfume. But never one lias seemed to me So guileless, pure and new — 62 " Dear Lord, please send us blessed dreams, And let them all come true." Ah ! little maiden, kneeling there Beneath the sunset skies, What need have we of other prayer Than yours, so sweet and wise ! Henceforth I breathe no studied plea. But bow and humbly pray wath you — "Dear Lord, please send us pleasant dreams, And let ihem all come true."' ilNDEX.^ Page Acrostic MC An Idvl 2''-23 Blessed Are They That Mourn ^Z-iS Blessed Dreams 61-62 Brief Sayings 27-34 Departed Hopes qq Elegiac Poem 9_jO Farewell to the Tuna oq Pollen 37-40 Grown Apart 61 Hope 16-17 I'll Ne'er Forget My Nannie, 23-24 I'll No Regret My Nannie, O g In Perplexity 4-7 My Little Wife 53-54 Newsboy's Greeting, No. 1 17 Newsboy's Greeting, No. 2 jg New Year's Eve 42 Rather Pointed 24-25 Satire on Woman 10-13 Self-Convicted 59-60 Sing That Song For Me Again 25-26 Smiling Through Our Tears 18-19 Some Things Sad to See 13 Some Tender Loines 53 Taking Toll 54-55 Thanatopsis 40-41 The Bacheloi-'s New Year's Soliloquy .57-59 The Bonnie Belles O' Bradford, No 1 14 The Bonnie Belles of Bradford, No. 2, 19 The Bonnie Hills of Bradford 14-15 The Dying Shoemaker 55-56 The Evolution of Temperance 20-21 The Knight of St. Cryspan 50-52 The Old Tin Dinner Pail 56-57 The Orphan's Plea 21-22 The Pebble in the Ocean 15 The Pilot Ship 7-8 The Raven 45-")0 The River Time 43-44 To a Ladv Friend 52 Who Sent Thee to Bloom 16 You Put No Flowers on Papa's Grave 44-45 ^107 » N '* .^"^ • U <^ *-^ /yi-ii^'X • • * .\_ j"""^ ^y V ^^ «■"•- % " ^^ .*^'j^ ' 'J'^V^' ^Ml^^^^ ""^^S ^l^^^\ ^Q-^ ^P'^^ i'. \/ v**- JP'i .0 -"^