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LOVE AT AUCTION.

I didn't though!—I laid it by

Until, with years, my love is cool;
And looking now upon it, I

Can wonder I was such a fool:
Poor girl! she's wedded since, to one
Who loved her dearly-for her pelf!
The wretch to Texas late has gone,
And left her now to hang herself!

This Valentine was sent by one

Whose name's "a poet's passion”—MARY!
Once graceful as the bounding fawn,
And mischievous as any fairy:
She's married, too, and fat-ye gods!

I scarcely can contain my laughter,
When in the street I sometimes meet
Her, with her ducklings waddling after!

A miniature! of her, my first,

My warmest love—perhaps my only!
How has my heart her image nursed,
A light unto my pathway lonely!
She weds another soon-her vow

To me all lightly hath she broken;
Her gift-ay, let it go, for now,

'Tis of her falsehood but the token!

105

This tress of hair, of golden hue

(Some call it red—'tis not, tis auburn !— For the distinction 'twixt the two,

A poet ask, or ask GRANT THORBURN!) Belonged to one—a glorious girl— I loved as brother may a sister; Smoothed o'er her brow each sunny curl, And sometimes chid, and sometimes-kissed her!

Ah! those were happy days to me!

Dear ELLA, do you ne'er regret them?Yet hopeless though the task may be,

How have I striven to forget them! The bitterest sting in love that's lost,

Is memory of its by-gone pleasures;

But how must that lone heart be cross'd

Which longs to yield thus up such treasures!

No more!-The sale must close, lest I
Each firm resolve should reconsider;
Throw in one lot the rest-who'll buy?
I'll knock it to the highest bidder;
I thought it not so hardly done,
Each long-cemented tie to sever;
But now they're "going-going-gone!"
And Love and I here part-FOREVER!

"I CARE FOR NOBODY."

"I care for nobody, no! not I—

And nobody cares for me!"

OLD SONG

In her bower, one eve, sat a maiden fair,
Carolling forth a joyous strain-

Was wafted far o'er the balmy air,

Till by Echo, loved nymph, sent back again : Her voice was sweet, and bright her eye,

And merrily, merrily, thus sang she

"I care for nobody, no! not I,

And nobody cares for me-for me-
Nobody cares for me!"

"Oh! Love is a wild and devious chase, At best but a fair, deceitful snare;

And men are a false and faithless race,

With their vows, all light as the empty air:"

Then her joyous laugh rang loud and high,

And gaily, gaily still, sang she"I care for nobody, no! not I,

And nobody cares for me--for me—
Nobody cares for me!"

"Oh! who would bestow a thought, upon
A race so vain and false as the men ?"-
The maiden paused, as she thought of one,
Right glad were she to see again:
And she breathed a low and gentle sigh,

The while she sang, yet still "I care for nobody, no! not I,

sang

-for me

And nobody cares for me

Nobody cares for me!"

she

The maiden ceased:-'twas a step well known,
And a manly form stood by her side;
He took her snowy hand in his own,

And woo'd that fair one for his bride:

She gave him a glance of her bright black eye, As she sang, and, "Heigho!" then sang she

"I care for somebody now-do I,

Since somebody cares for me-for me-

Somebody cares for me!"

THE QUANDARY.

"The bright black eye-the melting blue

I cannot choose between the two!"

HOLMES.

Now, by the little god of love,

In maidens' hearts who rears his throne, Did e'er so sweet an influence prove

Source of such plague, as to mine own? Two charming girls I know-both fair, And both so tender, fond and true,That, by the joys of love I swear,

"I cannot choose between the two!"

There's MARY, beauteous as the Loves,
And ANNA, lovely as the Graces;
Both kind and sweet as turtle doves,
Both angel forms-with seraph faces

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