66 THE COQUETTE. THE COQUETTE.-SAXE YOU' OU'RE clever at drawing, I own," As we sat by the window alone, "But say, can you paint a Coquette ? " "She's painted already," quoth I; 66 Nay, nay!" said the laughing Lisette, "Now, none of your joking,--but try And paint me a thorough Coquette." "Well, cousin," at once I began In the ear of the eager Lisette, "I'll paint you as well as I can That wonderful thing, a Coquette. "She wears a most beautiful face (Of course!-said the pretty Lisette), And isn't deficient in grace, Or else she were not a Coquette. "And then she is daintily made (A smile from the dainty Lisette), By people expert in the trade Of forming a proper Coquette. "She's the winningest ways with the beaux "She knows how to weep and to sigh "In short, she's a creature of art (O hush!—said the frowning Lisette), With merely the ghost of a heart,— Enough for a thorough Coquette. 451 452 REPUTATION. "And yet I could easily prove In love with herself,-the Coquette ! "There,―do not be angry,—you know, To paint you-a thorough Coquette!" REPUTATION. CHARLES PHILLIPS. DIVINE, O delightful legacy of a spotless reputation! Rich is the inheritance it leaves, the example it testifies! Pure, precious, and imperishable the hope which it inspires! Can there be conceived a more atrocious injury than to filch from its possessor this inestimable benefit; to rob society of its charm, and solitude of its solace; not only to outlaw life, but to attaint death, converting the very grave, the refuge of the sufferer, into the gate of infamy and of shame! I can conceive of but few crimes beyond it. He who plunders my property takes from me that which can be repaired by time. But what period can repair a ruined reputation? He who maims my person, effects that which medicine may remedy. But what herb has sovereignty over the wounds of slander? He who ridicules my poverty, or reproaches my profession, upbraids me with that which industry may retrieve, and integrity may purify. But what riches shall redeem a bankrupt fame? What power shall blanch the sullied snow of character? There can be no injury more deadly. There can be no crime more cruel. It is without remedy; without antidote; without evasion. The reptile, calumny, is ever on the watch. From the fascination of its eye, no activity can escape. From the venom of its fang, no sanity can recover. It has no enjoyment but crime; no prey but virtue; no interval from the restlessness of its malice, save when, bloated with its victims, it grovels, to disgorge them at the withered shrine where envy idolizes her own infirmities. OVER THE WAY. 453 OVER THE WAY. GON ONE in her child like purity Fading away in the light so sweet, Where the silver stars and the sunbeams meet, Over the bosom tenderly The pearl-white hands are pressed, The lashes lie on her cheeks so thin, Where the softest blush of the rose hath been, Shutting the blue of her eyes within, Over the sweet brow lovingly Twineth her sunny hair; She was so fragile that love sent down, From his heavenly gems, that soft, bright crown, Gone to sleep with the tender smile By the farewell kiss of her dewy breath, Whose bloom the white frost nips. Robin, hushed in your downy bed, Do you miss her voice from your glad duet- Rosebud,-under your shady leaf, Hid from the sunny day, Do you miss the glance of her eye so bright, 454 DRESS AND DRINK. Whose blue was heaven to your timid sight? It is beaming now in a world of light, Over the starry way. Hearts,--where the darling's head hath lain, Do you know that the touch of her gentle hand DRESS AND DRINK. What foul demon wrecked her Look upon that reeling, Haggard man of care, Down the back streets stealing, Roaming anywhere! What hath done this? Pause and think! "Twàs Drink!-'twas Drink! Lying on the pavement Dead, in her despair, What hath brought this? It was Dress! DIES IRÆ.-THOMAS DE CELANO. DAY of vengeance, without morrow! Earth shall end in flame and sorrow, As from Saint and Seer we borrow. Ah! what terror is impending, To the throne, the trumpet, sounding, Death and Nature, mazed, are quaking, On the written Volume's pages, |