Put up that paw! Dress! Take your rifle! If you had seen her, so fair and young, hold your If Whose head was happy on this breast, you could have heard the songs I sung When the wine went round, you wouldn't have guessed That ever I, sir, should be straying From door to door with fiddle and dog, Ragged and penniless, and playing To you to-night for a glass of grog. She's married since-a parson's wife. 'Twas better for her that we should partBetter the soberest, prosiest life Than a blasted home and a broken heart. I have seen her? Once. I was weak and spent On the dusty road: a carriage stopped; GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN. FROM FARM BALLADS. 'VE worked in the field all ed till my legs are weak; fibs) I've lived with you six months, John, and so far I've been true; But I'm going away to-day with a handsomer man than you." A han'somer man than me! Why, that ain't much to say; There's han'somer men than me go past here every day. When the plough-p'int struck There's han'somer men than me-I ain't of a stone and the handles the han'some kind; But a lovin'er man than I was I guess she'll never find. Curse her! curse her! I say, and give my curses wings! May the words of love I've spoke be changed to scorpion stings! Oh, she filled my heart with joy, she emptied my heart of doubt, And now, with a scratch of a pen, she lets my heart's blood out! Well said! the door is locked! but here she's Curse her! curse her! say I; she'll some left the key, Under the step, in a place known only to her and me; I wonder who's dying or dead, that she's hustled off pell-mell? But here on the table's a note, and probably this will tell. a time when she Good God! my wife is gone! my wife is As sure as the world goes on, there'll come gone astray! The letter it says, "Good-bye, for I'm a-go- Will read the devilish heart of that han' ing away; somer man than me; And there'll be a time when he will find, as | Ah, here is her kitchen dress! it makes my And here are her weekday shoes, and there is her weekday hat, And yonder's her weddin'-gown: I wonder she didn't take that. "Twas only this mornin' she came and called me her" dearest dear," And said I was makin' for her a regular paradise here; O God! if you want a man to sense the pains of hell, Before you pitch him in just keep him in heaven a spell! Good-bye! I wish that death had severed us two apart. You've lost a worshipper here, you've crushed a lovin' heart. I'll take my hard words back, nor make a As happy and gay as I was a half an hour bad matter worse; She'll have trouble enough; she shall not have my curse; ago. JANE (entering). But I'll live a life so square-and I well Why, John, what a litter here! you've know that I canthrown things all around! That she always will sorry be that she went Come, what's the matter now? and what've with that han'somer man. you lost or found? conqueror leads And here's my father here, a-waiting for A race of slaves; he sets, and his last beam somer man than you. Ha ha! Pa, take a seat, while I put the Of petty tyrants, feudal despots, lords kettle on, And get things ready for tea, and kiss my Strong in some hundred spearmen, only great dear old John.— In that strange spell a name. Each hour It seems as if I'd woke from a mighty tick- He tossed not high his ready cap in air smiles at me so queer; I hope she don't! Good Lord! I hope that they didn't hear! not The stain away in blood? Such shames are common. Twas one of her practical drives-she I have known deeper wrongs-I, that speak thought I'd understand! to ye: But I'll never break sod again till I get the I had a brother once, a gracious boy lay of the land. But one thing's settled with me-to appre- Of sweet and quiet joy; there was the look ciate heaven well, Of heaven upon his face which limners give Tis good for a man to have some fifteen To the beloved disciple. How I loved minutes of hell. WILL CARLETON. RIENZI TO THE ROMANS. FRIENDS, I come not here to talk. Ye know too well That gracious boy, younger by fifteen years. |