Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

T

DISASTER

WAS ever thus from childhood's hour!
My fondest hopes would not decay;
I never loved a tree or flower

Which was the first to fade away!

The garden, where I used to delve

Short-frock'd, still yields me pinks in plenty ;

The pear-tree that I climbed at twelve

I see still blossoming, at twenty.

I never nursed a dear gazelle;
But I was given a parroquet
(How I did nurse him if unwell!)
He's imbecile, but lingers yet.

He's green, with an enchanting tuft;

He melts me with his small black eye;

He'd look inimitable stuffed,

And knows it - but he will not die!

I had a kitten

In pets

[ocr errors][merged small]

but all too soon my kitten

Became a full-sized cat, by which

I've more than once been scratched and bitten

And when for sleep her limbs she curl'd

One day beside her untouch'd plateful,

And glided calmly from the world,

I freely own that I was grateful.

And then I bought a dog-a queen!
Ah, Tiny, dear departing pug!
She lives, but she is past sixteen

And scarce can crawl across the rug.
I loved her beautiful and kind;

Delighted in her pert bow-wow; But now she snaps if you don't mind; 'T were lunacy to love her now.

I used to think, should e'er mishap
Betide my crumple-visaged Ti,
In shape of prowling thief, or trap,

Or coarse bull-terrier- I should die.
But ah! disasters have their use,

And life might e'en be too sunshiny;
Nor would I make myself a goose,
If some big dog should swallow Tiny.

Charles S. Calverley.

T

SARAH'S HALLS

HE broom that once through Sarah's halls,
In hole and corner sped,

Now useless leans 'gainst Sarah's walls
And gathers dust instead.

So sweeps the slavey now-a-days

So work is shifted o'er,

And maids that once gained honest praise
Now earn that praise no more!

No more the cobweb from its height
The broom of Sarah fells;
The fly alone unlucky wight
Invades the spider's cells.
Thus energy so seldom wakes,

All sign that Sarah gives

Is when some dish or platter breaks,

To show that still she lives.

Judy.

I

'T WAS EVER THUS

NEVER rear'd a young gazelle,

(Because, you see, I never tried);

But had it known and loved me well, No doubt the creature would have died. My rich and aged Uncle John

Has known me long and loves me well

But still persists in living on

I would he were a young gazelle.

I never loved a tree or flower;
But, if I had, I beg to say

The blight, the wind, the sun, or shower
Would soon have withered it away.

I've dearly loved my Uncle John,

From childhood to the present hour,

And yet he will go living on

I would he were a tree or flower!

Henry S. Leigh.

AFTER JANE TAYLOR

T

THE BAT

WINKLE, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!

Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky.

Lewis Carroll.

AFTER BARRY CORNWALL

THE TEA

HE tea! The tea! The beef, beef-tea!
The brew from gravy-beef for me!

TH

Without a doubt, as I'll be bound,

The best for an invalid 't is found;
It's better than gruel; with sago vies;
Or with the cradled babe's supplies.

I like beef-tea! I like beef-tea,

I'm satisfied, and aye shall be,

With the brew I love, and the brew I know,
And take it wheresoe'er I

go.

If the price should rise, or meat be cheap,
No matter. I'll to beef-tea keep.

I love-oh, how I love to guide

The strong beef-tea to its place inside,
When round and round you stir the spoon
Or whistle thereon to cool it soon.
Because one knoweth - or ought to know,
That things get cool whereon you blow.

I never have drunk the dull souchong,
But I for my loved beef-tea did long,
And inly yearned for that bountiful zest,
Like a bird. As a child on that I messed
And a mother it was and is to me,
For I was weaned on the beef beef-tea!
Tom Hood, Jr.

« AnteriorContinuar »