Or view the fruit the vineyard yields, HENRY'S COTTAGE MAID. Thy love to me thou didst impart, IN THE DOWNHILL OF LIFE. 971 In the downhill of life, when I find I'm declining, May my lot no less fortunate be, Than a snug elbow chair can afford for reclining, And a cot that o'erlooks the wide sea. With an ambling pad poney, to pace o'er the lawn, While I carol away idle sorrow; And blithe as the lark that each day hails the dawn, Look forward with hope for to-morrow. With a porch at the door, both for shelter a shade too, As the sunshine or rain may prevail; A small spot of ground for the use of the spade too And a purse when a friend wants to borrow, I'll envy no nabob his riches or fame, Nor what honours await him to-morrow. From the bleak northern blast may my cot be completely Secured by a neighbouring hill: At night, may repose steal upon me more sweetly, By the sound of a murmuring rill; And, while peace and plenty I find at my board, With a heart free from sickness and sorrow, With my friends will I share what to-day may af ford, And let them spread the table to-morrow. But when I at last must throw off this frail cover ing, Which I've worn for three score years and ten On the brink of the grave I'll not seek to keep hovering, Nor my thread wish to spin o'er again; But my face in a glass I'll serenely survey, And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow, As this old worn-out stuff which is threadbare to day, May become everlasting to-morrow. AM! TEACH THY BREAST. Ah! teach thy breast soft pity's throb, No more thy brow would wear that frown, AS A BEAM. a beam on the face of the waters may glow, Then the tide runs in darkness and coldness below, the cheek may be tinged with a warm sunny smile, ao' the cold heart to ruin runs darkly the while. me fatal remembrance, one sorrow that throws: bleak shade alike o'er our joys and our woes: which life nothing darker or brighter can bring, Er which joy has no balm, and affliction no sting. !that thought in the midst of enjoyment will stay, ke a dead leafless branch in the summer's bright ray: e beams of the warm sun play round it in vain, may smile in its light, but it blooms not again. ONE NIGHT CAME ON A HURRICANE One night came on a hurricane, the sea mountains rolling, When Barney Buntline turn'd his quid, and sai to Billy Bowline, A strong sou wester's blowing, Bill, can't you bear it roar now? Lord help 'em! how I pities all unhappy folks on shore now. Fool hardy chaps as lives in towns, what danger: they are all in, And now they're quaking in their beds for fear the roof should fall in, Poor creatures! how they envies us, and wishes, I've a notion, For our good luck, in such a storm, to be upon the ocean. Then as to them kept out all day on business from their houses, And late at night are coming home, to cheer their wives and spouses, While you and I upon the deck are comfortably lying, My eyes! what tiles and chimney-pots about their heads are flying. And often have we seamen heard how men in killed or undone, By overturns in carriages, and thieves, and fir in London; We've heard what risks all landsmen run, from noblemen to tailors, 1 o, Bill, let us thank Providence, that you andI are sailors. THE SIGNAL TO ENGAGE. The signal to engage shall be A whistle and a balloo; You, Gunnel, keep the helm in hand, Then soon as we are ready, The signal, &c. Keep, boys, a good look out, d'ye hear, The signal, &c. All hands, then, lads, the ship to clear, The signal, &c. O, MARIAN, THE MERRY. 0, Marian, the merry, who gave you that fairing? The lasses all envy, lads jealously view, That true lover s kot, on your bosom too wearing O, say, blushing Marian, who gave 'em to you? |