LOVE AT AUCTION. I didn't though!—I laid it by Until, with years, my love is cool; Can wonder I was such a fool: This Valentine was sent by one Whose name's "a poet's passion”—MARY! I scarcely can contain my laughter, A miniature! of her, my first, My warmest love—perhaps my only! To me all lightly hath she broken; '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 "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, 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- "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— "Oh! who would bestow a thought, upon 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 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, |