And that far-beaming blaze of majesty,

Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council-table
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,

He laid aside, and here with us to be,
Forsook the courts of everlasting day,

And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay.

Say, heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein

Afford a present to the Infant-God?

Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain,

To welcome him to this his new abode,

Now while the heaven, by the sun's team untrod,

Hath took no print of the approaching light,

And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright?

See, how from far, upon the eastern road,

The star-led wizards haste with odors sweet; Oh, run, prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet;

Have thou the honor first thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the angel-choir,

From out his secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire.

A FREE SHOW.

WYOMING KIT.

SIT to-night as audience to my thoughts,
Which to a panorama treat my vision

Of days long past, some bright, some bearin
blots,

Some worthy praise; some calling forth derisio.. And as the ever-changing scenes go by

Eliciting applause or condemnation

I bid the canvas halt, as to my eye

Appears a scene which once caused aggravation!

It shows me in the bright sunset of youth,
Just entering the dawn of manhood's morning,
When womankind I ranked as pearls of truth,
Forever every thought of falsehood scorning!
One avalanche of beauty crossed my path,

And of my heart susceptible made capture!
Ah! who can know the joy I felt, who hath
Not likewise had a tussle with love's rapture!

I wooed her as did woo the fabled gods

(At least as I then understood their wooing

From what I'd gleaned from books)-but what's the odds?

I wooed her, that's enough-and in my suing I promised her—well, never mind; 'twas more Than I could ever give from shrunken bounty! Enough to stock the very finest store

In this, or any other, high-toned county!

My wages vanished like a summer dream,
In little odds or ends to suit her fancy;
Gloves, handkerchiefs, confections, rides, ice-cream,
And price of opera boxes' occupancy!
My board bill swelled into enormous size!

My washerwoman threatened dire exposure! And creditors-confound 'em-swarmed like flies,. And hinted at a possible disclosure!

And yet, my darling's smiles at all times drove
Away the morbid shade these scenes threw o'er me
The very pangs of sulphurdom, by Jove!

Would lose their terror with her smiles before me. At last she named the happy, joyous day

When I should claim her for my own, own treasure But just before the night she ran away

With clerk of a hotel, a gent of leisure!

*

Ten years have passed. I saw her yesterday
Beneath a basketful of dirty linen!

She takes in washing now! alack-a-day!

And 'pon my soul I couldn't keep from grinnin' To see that form which once was lithe and fair,

Now weighing some two hundred pounds, or over! And seven children, all with oreide hair,

Now greet her with the sacred name of “muvver!"

66 A FREE SHOW.

TILL DEATH US PART.

107

Her husband tumbled from his lofty grade

And "soaked" his diamond(?) pin for just a dollar,
With which he bought a bootblack's stock in trade

And went in partnership with gent of color!
His works now shine-from others' fancy boots!
Alas! what ending to love's glorious summer!
Bright dream of glory plucked out by the roots!
Who? me?-ah-um—well, I'm a genteel bummer.

"TILL DEATH US PART."

DEAN STANLEY.

"Till death us part,"

So speaks the heart,

When each to each repeats the words of doom;
Thro' blessing, and thro' curse,

For better and for worse,

We will be one till the dread hour shall come.

Life, with its myriad grasp,

Our yearning souls shall clasp,

By ceaseless love and still expectant wonder,
In bonds that shall endure,
Indissolubly sure,

Till God in death shall part our paths asunder.

Till Death us join,

O voice yet more divine!

That to the broken heart breathes hope sublime;

Thro' lonely hours

And shattered powers

We still are one, despite of change and time.

Death, with his healing hand,

Shall once more knit the band

Which needs but that one link which none may sever; Till, thro' the Only Good,

Heard, felt and understood,

Our life in God shall make us one forever.