In Preparation, a Second Volume of Poems, entitled

LEGENDS OF MANY LANDS;

Which will contain the following Humorous Poems, written after the manner of the "Ingoldsby Legends."

CALIPH CHASID: A LEGEND OF BAGDAD.

THE SCHWANENBURG: A LEGEND OF CLEVES.

THE LOVERS' DILEMMA: A LEGEND OF MERRIE ISLINGTON. THE LEFT-HANDED MARRIAGE: A LEGEND OF ERFURT.

J. CHRISTIE, PRINTER, CROSS STREET, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

This Volume is

AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

TO ANNIE.

'Midst all the forms that meet the eyes,

Of varied charms possest,

There's always one we learn to prize

Far, far above the rest;

Though others fail, perchance, to trace
A single beauty there,

For us 'tis fraught with ev'ry grace-
The fairest of the fair!

And where I roam, or whom I see,
My heart can ne'er be false to thee!

For dearer far than all to me

Is thy sweet smile!

There may be brighter eyes than thine,
And features far more fair,

But would I seek to call them mine

My joys and griefs to share?

No! no!-the charms by Beauty worn
Must wither-like the rose;

Thy smile will please when they are gone,'Tis better far than those!

And where I roam, or whom I see,
My heart can ne'er be false to thee!

For dearer far than all to me
Is thy sweet smile!

Let others seek for forms divine

Their "hearths and homes" to bless, The charms that never fade are thineThe soul's true loveliness!

For if, to cheer our toiling race,

The light from Heaven's throne

Was ever seen on woman's face,
It rests upon thine own!

And where I roam, or whom I see,
My heart can ne'er be false to thee!

For dearer far than all to me

Is thy sweet smile!

PREFACE

WHEN about sixteen years of age, I became very fond of writing poetry, and ever since that time I have employed a large portion of my leisure hours in studying and practising metrical composition; the result being that poem after poem has accumulated under my hands; a selection from which I have now chosen for publication.

Left an orphan in childhood, I was sent to sea (that "stepmother of the unfortunate") when only twelve years old, hence it may be easily understood that my early education was of a limited nature, and if the following poem is wanting in elaborateness, I trust that this circumstance will be borne in mind; also that portions of the work were composed in the forecastle, at the wheel, and aloft ; and that it was completed during my twentysecond year.