"Tis by the glow my bumper gives, Life's picture 's mellow made; The fading light then brightly lives And softly sinks the shade.
"In life I've run all changes through, Run every pleasure down."
Some happier tint still rises there With every drop I drain; And that I think 's a reason fair To fill my glass again.
My Muse, too, when her wings are dry, No frolic flights will take,
But round the bowl she 'll dip and fly,
Like swallows round a lake.
Then, if each nymph will have her share, Before she 'll bless her swain,
Why, that I think 's a reason fair To fill my glass again.
In life I 've rung all changes through,
Run every pleasure down,
Tried all extremes of folly too,
And lived with half the town;
For me there's nothing new nor rare,
Till wine deceives my brain;
And that I think 's a reason fair To fill my glass again.
I find, too, when I stint my glass,
And sit with sober air,
I'm prosed by some dull reasoning ass Who treads the path of care;
Or, harder still, am doomed to bear
Some coxcomb's fribbling strain; And that I'm sure 's a reason fair To fill my glass again.
There's many a lad I knew is dead, And many a lass grown old, And as the lesson strikes my head, My weary heart grows cold; But wine awhile drives off despair- Nay, bids a hope remain; And that I think 's a reason fair To fill my glass again.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
WAS the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below; When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! and
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleighful of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face, and a little round belly That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump-a right jolly old elf- And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to the sleigh, to the team gave a whistle, And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle, But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night! CLEMENT C. MOORE.
Soon as the evening shades prevail, The Moon takes up the wondrous tale; And nightly, to the listening Earth, Repeats the story of her birth:
Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets, in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though, in solemn silence, all Move round the dark terrestrial ball: What though nor real voice nor sound Amidst their radiant orbs be found: In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, Forever singing as they shine, "The hand that made us is divine." JOSEPH ADDISON.
HI, whar shill we go w'en de great day comes, Wid de blowin' er de trumpits en de bangin' er de drums?
How many po' sinners 'll be kotched out late En fine no latch ter de golden gate?
Who's a gwine fer ter stan' stiff-kneed en bol', En answer to der name at de callin' er de roll? You better come now ef you comin' - Ole Satun is loose en a bummin'- De wheels er distruckshun is a hummin'— Oh, come 'long, sinners, ef you comin'!
De song er salvashun is a mighty sweet song, En de Pairidise win' blow fur en blow strong, En Aberham's bosom, hits saft en bits wide, En right dar's de place whar de sinners oughter hide! Oh, you nee'n ter be a stoppin' en a lookin'; Ef you fool wid ole Satun you'll git took in; You'll hang on de aidge en get shook in, Ef you keep on a stoppin' en a lookin'.
"De time is right now, en dish yer's de place."
No use fer ter wait twell ter-morrer, De sun musn't set on yo' sorrer, Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier- O Lord! fetch de mo'ners up higher!
W'en de nashuns er de earf is a standin' all aroun', Who's a gwine ter be choosen fer ter w'ar de glorycrown?
De time is right now; en dish yer's de place- Let de sun er salvashun shine squar' in yo' face; Fight de battles er de Lord, fight soon en fight late, En you'll allers fine a latch ter de golden gate; No use fer ter wait twel ter-morrer, De sun musn't set on yo' sorrer,- Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier, Ax de Lord fer ter fetch you up higher!
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
OOKS are the true levelers. They give to all who faithfully use them the society, the spiritual presence, of the greatest and best of our race.
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