NEW YEAR'S ODE.

TO THE WINNER of the ST. NISBETT-SEASON 1844.

Trumpet-tongued against

The deep damnation of her taking-off.'—Macbeth.

“Robbing the stage was, in those days, a practice common enough.' Roderick Random.

GIVE back-'give us back the wild freshness of morning,'
Ere light orange-blossoms weighed widowhood down!
And pause, oh, SIR WILLIAM, ere one house adorning,
You cast in deep shadow our houses in town.
Why veil from the public its gayest of brides?
The miser alone buries gold in a box;

What artist, triumphant, his masterpiece hides?
We leave to the stage its duennas and locks.

Bound fast, yet again let the Favourite run!
Both thine and our own!—a petition not visible;
For though it is true man and wife are but one,
She, single or wedded, is two, and divisible.

While owning thee winner, the town has its rights;
The 'wife' is all thine-'tis the 'madcap' we ask!
Hold captive the Woman, most conqu'ring of Knights,
But give back the Spirit with Comedy's mask.

For brave Widow NISBETT no more may we burn;
As blithe Widow NISBETT she flies from the scene;
But let, Sir,-oh, let Widow Cheerly return,

And her who contrasted with ripe Widow Green!
Enclose not the orchard while gathering its fruits;

The garden's your own, Sir, yet spare us some flowers. Let marriage ne'er pluck up wild mirth by the roots: The widow is thine-but the actress is ours.

Giving up to dull parties (though Wedlock's the teacher)
What's meant for mankind, causes patience to reel :
And why should a BOOTнBY thus follow a BECHER !
The other SIR WILLIAM, who snapped up O'NEILL!
In favour of privacy, prejudice ran :

It carried off KEMBLES, the STEPHENS, the TREE; 'Twas doubtful if safe from some desperate man, Was quiet Miss TIDSWELL, or old Mrs. D.

But deeper the sorrow that NISBETT has cost;
More stern thy resentment, susceptible town;
She wedded, returned;-weds again, and we're lost;
From Scylla escaped, in Charybdis we drown!
Blest winner, but cruel! most cruel to Art!

Yet more to YOUNG LONDON who stood by her throne;
Who now shall report how she toppeth her part ?—
Who rush for a seat?-she resides at her own!

Who weds a mere beauty, dooms dozens to grieve;

Who marries an heiress, leaves hundreds undone ; Who bears off an actress (she never took leave),

Deprives a whole city of rational fun.

But farewell the glances and nods of ST. NISBETT;
We list for her short ringing laughter in vain,

And yet-bereaved London !—what think you of this bet?

'A hundred to one we shall see her again!'

CHRISTMAS CHIT-CHAT,

IN A LARGE FAMILY CIRCLE.

'THE day of all days we have seen
Is Christmas,' said Sue to Eugene ;
'More welcome in village and city
Than Mayday,' said Andrew to Kitty.
"Why "Mistletoe's " twenty times sweeter
Than "May," said Matilda to Peter;

6

And so you will find it, if I'm a

True prophet,' said James to Jemima.

'I'll stay up to supper, no bed,'

Then lisped little Laura to Ned.

'The girls all good-natured and dressy,

And bright-cheeked,' said Arthur to Jessie ; 'Yes, hoping ere next year to marry, The madcaps!' said Charlotte to Harry. 'So steaming, so savoury, so juicy, The feast,' said fat Charley to Lucy. 'Quadrilles and Charades might come on Before dinner,' said Martha to John. 'You'll find the roast beef when you're dizzy, A settler,' said Walter to Lizzy.

'Oh, horrid ! one wing of a wren, With a pea,' said Belinda to Ben. 'Sublime!' said—displaying his legGeorge Frederick Augustus to Peg. 'At Christmas refinement is all fuss And nonsense,' said Fan to Adolphus. 'Would romps-or a tale of a fairy— Best suit you,' said Robert to Mary. At stories that work ghost and witch hard, I tremble,' said Rosa to Richard.

'A ghostly hair-standing dilemma

Needs "bishop," said Alfred to Emma;
'What fun when with fear a stout crony
Turns pale,' said Maria to Tony ;
'And Hector, unable to rally,

Runs screaming,' said Jacob to Sally.
'While you and I dance in the dark
The polka,' said Ruth unto Mark :
'Each catching, according to fancy,
His neighbour,' said wild Tom to Nancy;
'Till candles, to show what we can do,
Are brought in,' said Ann to Orlando ;
'And then we all laugh what is truly a
Heart's laugh,' said William to Julia.
'Then sofas and chairs are put even,
And carpets,' said Helen to Stephen;
'And so we all sit down again,
Supping twice,' said sly Joseph to Jane.
'Now bring me my clogs and my spaniel,
And light me,' said Dinah to Daniel.