THE WOMAN THAT'S EQUALLED BY NONE. "O WOMAN, WOMAN,-what can I call thee more? If ANGEL, less." "Let her peer Into the world's wide casket-she will find No gem of love like mine." HERE's a merry good-health to the girl of my soul, Her name shall be mute, but let every man's bowl And whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip, Be this the fond toast of each one, (As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip) Dear woman, we owe thee the debt of our love, Our homage, our truth, is thy right, Since by day that sweet wreath of enchantment is wove, Which we wear on thy bosom at night. 14 THE WOMAN THAT'S EQUALLED BY NONE. Then whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip, (As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,) There are many will tell thee they love very true, Tho' I fear in my heart, that the number are few But whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip, (As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,) And now, ere we part, let me say what I think, (For my soul is athirst to be blest) "May we each the moist kisses of dear woman drink From the fountain of bliss we love best." So, whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip, Be this the fond toast of each one, (As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,) "The woman that's equall'd by none. THE LOVER'S ECHO. "Man is capricious, jealous, free, And yet the women all agree, For want of better-he MUST do." "This then my prayer-O fond and constant be, ONE evening as lately I stray'd by the wave, A sigh and a thought to my heart-dear I gave, With rapture I answer'd—“ Sweet daughter of air, Yet tell me, lone maid, if there's trueness in man? Out of breath I exclaim'd-" O but tell me of this And I'll fondly believe it is heaven that I hear, O tell me, thou babbler, thou handmaid of bliss, O tell if my lover be warm and sincere. O tell me, I pray, if he's fervent and true?" Kind echo made answer-" He's fervent and true." Thanks, thanks, dearest echo, for all I have heard, And now, ere we part, thy best tidings express, "Tis the "last time of asking," so waft me a word That is spelt with a Y, with an E, and an S. Shall I soon be a bride ?-tell me quick, No or Yes! Would you believe it, dear echo distinctly said— "Yes." WHAT IS A SIGH? "Sighs with success their own soft anguish tell." In those four words-" What is a sigh ?" In those four slender words are met Life's enigmatic alphabet! The question's put, you wait reply, List, and I'll tell thee "what's a sigh." 66 In grief, a sigh" is like the rose, Around whose stem the rank weed grows; The weed the infant bud will press The rose will die in its caress; So grief will on the love-lorn sit, And choke the heart that pillows it. But then a "6 sigh"-to wit, like mine, (And, reader, such, I hope, as thine)— C |