I go to the same church -a love-lost labor; Haunt all her walks, and dodge her at the play; She does not seem to know she has a neighbor Over the way! At private theatres she never acts; No Crown-and-Anchor balls her fancy sway; Over the way! To billets-doux by post she shows no favor- I play the flute - she heeds not my chromatics I wish a fire would break out in the attics Over the way! My wasted form ought of itself to touch her: And as for butcher's meat- O! she's my butcher Over the way! At beef I turn; at lamb or veal I pout; Over the way! I'm weary of my life; without regret I could resign this miserable clay Over the way! I've fitted bullets to my pistol-bore; I've vowed at times to rush where trumpets bray, Sometimes my fancy builds up castles airy, and Mary, Sometimes I dream of her in bridal white, I've cooed with her in dreams, like any turtle; Thrice I have rowed her in a fairy shallop, Thrice raced to Gretna in a neat "po-shay," And showered crowns to make the horses gallop Over the way! And thrice I've started up from dreams appalling There is a young man very fond of calling Over the way! O! happy man - above all kings in glory, With such a lot my heart would be in clover Postilions and white favors! - all is over Over the way! EPICUREAN REMINISCENCES OF A SENTI MENTALIST. "My Tables! Meat it is, I set it down!" HAMLET. I THINK it was Spring-but not certain I am - But I know we were certainly looking for lamb, Twas at Christmas, I think, when I met with Miss Chase, And I thought I had never beheld such a face, Or so noble a turkey and chine. Placed close by her side, it made others quite wild With sheer envy to witness my luck; How she blushed as I gave her some turtle, and smiled As I afterwards offered some duck. I looked and I languished, alas! to my cost, Through three courses of dishes and meats; With a rent-roll that told of my houses and land, And then to herself I presented my hand, I asked her to have me for weal or for woe, And she did not object in the least; I can't tell the date but we married, I know, We went to it certainly was the sea-side; O, never may memory lose sight of that year, So happy, like hours, all our days seemed to haste, So united in heart so congenial in taste We were both of us partial to brawn! A long life I looked for of bliss with my bride, My dearest took ill at the turn of the year, But something it seemed like consumption, I fear,- In vain she was doctored, in vain she was dosed, She lost relish for what she had relished the most, For months still I lingered in hope and in doubt, She died, and she left me the saddest of men, O, I felt all the power of solitude then, As I ate my first natives alone! But when I beheld Virtue's friends in their cloaks, O, my grief poured a flood! and the out-of-door folks Were all crying-I think it was sprats! THE CARELESSE NURSE MAYD. I SAWE a Mayd sitte on a Bank, And whiles His flatterynge Vowes She drank, All Even Tide they Talkde and Kist, With angrie Hands and frownynge Browe, She then beginnes to wayle the Ladde The Momente that her Care was drownd! |