The Contrast 265 THE CONTRAST IN London I never know what I'd be at, Enraptured with this, and enchanted with that; But the country, Lord help me! sets all matters right, In town, if it rain, why it damps not our hope, In the country, what bliss, when it rains in the fields, In town, we've no use for the skies overhead, In the country, these planets delightfully glare, But 'tis in the country alone we can find Indeed I must own, 'tis a pleasure complete I have heard though, that love in a cottage is sweet, When two hearts in one link of soft sympathy meet; That's to come-for as yet I, alas! am a swain, Who require, I own it, more links to my chain. In the country, if Cupid should find a man out, In town let me live then, in town let me die, THE DEVONSHIRE LANE IN a Devonshire lane as I trotted along In the first place, 'tis long, and when, once you are in it, But though 'tis so long, it is not very wide, And e'en there 'tis a chance but they get in a pother, Old Poverty greets them with mendicant looks, A Splendid Fellow 267 Then the banks are so high, both to left hand and right, But, thinks I, too, these banks within which we are pent, In the rock's gloomy crevice the bright holly grows, And the evergreen love of a virtuous wife Smooths the roughness of care-cheers the winter of life. Then long be the journey and narrow the way; John Marriott. A SPLENDID FELLOW DELMONICO'S is where he dines On quail on toast, washed down with wines; With quite a flourish at the bar. He throws his money down so proud, Oh, he's a splendid fellow, quite; But when this splendid fellow's wife, That she, alarmed at his distress, IF If a man could live a thousand years, He might, by strict economy, A fortune have amassed. Then having gained some common-sense, He could select the woman who But as it is, man hasn't time H. C. Dodge. ACCEPTED AND WILL APPEAR ONE evening while reclining In my easy-chair, repining O'er the lack of true religion, and the dearth of common sense, A solemn visaged lady, Who was surely on the shady Side of thirty, entered proudly, and to crush me did com mence: The Little Vagabond "I sent a poem here, sir," Said the lady, growing fiercer, 269 "And the subject which I'd chosen, you remember, sir, was 'Spring '; But, although I've scanned your paper, Sir, by sunlight, gas, and taper, I've discovered of that poem not a solitary thing." She was muscular and wiry, And her temper sure was fiery, And I knew to pacify her I would have to-fib like fun. Which were great, had come to-bless us, We'd received just sixty-one on "Spring," of which we'd printed one. And I added, "We've decided That they'd better be divided Among the years that follow-one to each succeeding Spring. So your work, I'm pleased to mention, Will receive our best attention In the year of nineteen-forty, when the birds begin to sing." Parmenas Mix. THE LITTLE VAGABOND DEAR mother, dear mother, the Church is cold; But the Alehouse is healthy, and pleasant, and warm. Besides, I can tell where I am used well; The poor parsons with wind like a blown bladder swell. But, if at the Church they would give us some ale, And a pleasant fire our souls to regale, We'd sing and we'd pray all the livelong day, Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray. Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing, |