And that far-beaming blaze of majesty, Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council-table He laid aside, and here with us to be, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. Say, heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant-God? Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, To welcome him to this his new abode, Now while the heaven, by the sun's team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? See, how from far, upon the eastern road, The star-led wizards haste with odors sweet; Oh, run, prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honor first thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the angel-choir, From out his secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. A FREE SHOW. WYOMING KIT. SIT to-night as audience to my thoughts, Of days long past, some bright, some bearin Some worthy praise; some calling forth derisio.. And as the ever-changing scenes go by Eliciting applause or condemnation I bid the canvas halt, as to my eye Appears a scene which once caused aggravation! It shows me in the bright sunset of youth, And of my heart susceptible made capture! I wooed her as did woo the fabled gods (At least as I then understood their wooing From what I'd gleaned from books)-but what's the odds? I wooed her, that's enough-and in my suing I promised her—well, never mind; 'twas more Than I could ever give from shrunken bounty! Enough to stock the very finest store In this, or any other, high-toned county! My wages vanished like a summer dream, My washerwoman threatened dire exposure! And creditors-confound 'em-swarmed like flies,. And hinted at a possible disclosure! And yet, my darling's smiles at all times drove Would lose their terror with her smiles before me. At last she named the happy, joyous day When I should claim her for my own, own treasure But just before the night she ran away With clerk of a hotel, a gent of leisure! * Ten years have passed. I saw her yesterday She takes in washing now! alack-a-day! And 'pon my soul I couldn't keep from grinnin' To see that form which once was lithe and fair, Now weighing some two hundred pounds, or over! And seven children, all with oreide hair, Now greet her with the sacred name of “muvver!" 66 A FREE SHOW. TILL DEATH US PART. 107 Her husband tumbled from his lofty grade And "soaked" his diamond(?) pin for just a dollar, And went in partnership with gent of color! "TILL DEATH US PART." DEAN STANLEY. "Till death us part," So speaks the heart, When each to each repeats the words of doom; For better and for worse, We will be one till the dread hour shall come. Life, with its myriad grasp, Our yearning souls shall clasp, By ceaseless love and still expectant wonder, Till God in death shall part our paths asunder. Till Death us join, O voice yet more divine! That to the broken heart breathes hope sublime; |