And echo conversations, dull and dry, Embellished with, "He said," and "So said I." And, in the saddest part, cry, "Droll indeed !" ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.-GOLDSMITH. GOOD people all, of every sort, Give ear unto my song; In Islington there was a man, Of whom the world might say, A kind and gentle heart he had, And in that town a dog was found, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree. This dog and man at first were friends; But when a pique began, The dog, to gain some private ends, Went mad, and bit the man. Around from all the neighboring streets, The wondering neighbors ran, And swore the dog had lost his wits, To bite so good a man. The wound it seem'd both sore and sad And while they swore the dog was mad, But soon a wonder came to light, CHRISTMAS TIMES.-MOORE. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house 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. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen ! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Dunder and Blixen! *Santa Claus. To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack; Soon gave me to know that I had nothing to dread; And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, THERE'S NOTHING IN IT, OR MISERIES OF ENNUI. SIR CHARLES COLDSTREAM, SIR ADONIS LEECH AND HON. TOM. SAVILLE. Sir C. My dear Leech, you began life late-you are a young fellow-forty-five—and have the world yet before you— I started at thirteen, lived quick, and exhausted the whole round of pleasure before I was thirty. I've tried everything, heard everything, done everything, know everything, and here I am, a man at thirty-three, literally used up. Leech. Nonsense, man!-used up, indeed!—with your wealth, with your little heaven in Spring Gardens, and your paradise here at Kingston-upon-Thames, Sav. With twenty estates in the sunniest spots in England. Leech. Not to mention that Utopia, within four walls, in the Rue de Provence, in Paris. Oh, the nights we've spent there -eh, Tom? Sav. Ah! Sir C. I'm dead with ennui. Leech. Ennui! do you hear him, Tom? poor Croesus! Sir C. Croesus!-no, I'm no Croesus. My fatheryou've seen his portrait, good old fellow-he certainly did leave me a little matter of £12,000 a year, but after all— Leech. & Sav. Oh, come!— Sir C. Oh, I don't complain of it. Leech. I should think not. Sir C. Oh no, there are some people who can manage to do on less-on credit. Leech. I know several Sav. My dear Coldstream, you should try change of scene. Sir C. I have tried it-what's the use? Leech. But I'd gallop all over Europe. Sir C. I have-there's nothing in it. Sir C. Nothing-oh, dear, yes! I remember, at one time I did somehow go about, a good deal. Sav. You should go to Switzerland. Sir C. I have been-nothing there-people say so much about everything-there certainly were a few glaciers, some monks, and large dogs, and thick ankles, and bad wine, and Mont Blanc; yes, and there was ice on the top, too; but I prefer the ice at Gunter's-less trouble, and more in it. Leech. Then if Switzerland would n't do, I'd try Italy. Sir C. My dear Leech, I've tried it over and over again, and what then? Sav. Did not Rome inspire you? Sir C. Oh, believe me, Tom, a most horrible hole! People talk so much about these things-there's the Colosseum, now-round, very round, a goodish ruin enough, but I was disappointed with it; Capitol-tolerable high; and St. Peter's -marble, and mosaics, and fountains, dome certainly not badly scooped, but there was nothing in it. Leech. Come, Coldstream, you must admit we have nothing like St. Peter's in London. Sir C. No, because we don't want it; but if we wanted such a thing, of course we should have it. A dozen gentlemen meet, pass resolutions, institute, and in twelve months it would be run up; nay, if that were all, we'd buy St. Peter's itself. and have it sent over. Leech. Ha, ha! well said, you 're quite right. Sav. What say you to beautiful Naples? Sir C. Not bad, excellent watermelons, and goodish opera; they took me up to Vesuvius-a horrid bore; it smoked a good deal, certainly, but altogether a wretched mountain;-saw the crater-looked down, but there was nothing in it. Sav. But the bay? Sir C. Inferior to Dublin. Sir C. A great swamp! Sav. Greece? Sir C. A morass ! |