And Time trips too! This moral means You then were midway in the teens That I was crowning; We never spoke, but when I smiled Each morning that we met, I think And then at eve, experience-taught, And you were poor, so poor! and why? Especial grace meant ! Had you a chamber near the stars, A bird, some treasured plants in jars, About your casement? Often I wander up and down, When morning bathes the silent town I've seen some change since last we met A patient little seamstress yet, On small wage striving, Have you a Lilliputian Spouse? And do you dwell in some doll's house? Is baby thriving? My heart grows chill can soul like thine Weary of this dear World of mine, Have loosed its fetter, To find a world, whose promised bliss And is it better? Sometimes to Pall Mall I repair, To get one glance, they look discreet, Yet still I often think upon Our many meetings, come and gone, July - December! Now let us make a tryst, and when, VANITY FAIR. VANITAS vanitatum has rung in the ears I often hear people abusing it, yet There the young go to learn and the old to forget; The mirth may be feigning, the sheen may be glare, But the gingerbread's gilded in Vanity Fair. Dives there rolls in his chariot, but mind Ho is veerrith the lackeys behind; To work, it ack, - are the Sweet-hearts aware You triptaits them in Vanity Fair? We saw them all go, and we something may learn That stupid old Dives, once honest enough, Contemptible Dives! too credulous Joan! Philosophy halts wise counsels are vain, GERTRUDE'S NECKLACE. As Gerty skipt from babe to girl, So cradled, let it sink and rise, She's fancy free, but sweeter far But let her wear her precious toy, For time, ere long, will snap the skein, THE OLD CRADLE. AND this was your Cradle? Why surely, my Jenny, You were an exceedingly small picaninny Your baby-days flowed in a much-troubled channel; To hint at an infantine frailty's a scandal; Let bygones be bygones, and somebody knows It was bliss such a Baby to dance and to dandle, Your cheeks were so velvet, so rosy your toes. Ay, here is your cradle; and Hope, a bright spirit, It is Hope gilds the future, Love welcomes it smiling; Thus wags the old world, therefore stay not to ask, My future bids fair, is my future beguiling? If masked, still it pleases - then raise not the mask. Is Life a poor coil some would gladly be doffing? Then smile as your future is smiling, my Jenny; Ay, here is your cradle, much, much to my liking, Though nineteen or twenty long winters have sped. But hark! as I'm talking there's six o'clock striking, — It is time JENNY'S BABY should be in its bed. A GARDEN IDYLL. There are plenty of roses (the patriarch speaks) We have loitered and laughed in the flowery croft, Her voice is the dearest voice, and soft It is sweet in the silent woods, among To hear her voice, to gaze on her young For ever may roses divinely blow, And wine-dark pansies charm |