EVENING ODE, ADAPTED TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND POETICAL TASTE OF THE AGE. HARK! 'tis the meditative hour When the soul feels in all their power Its aspirations heavenward rise Drawing it gently toward the skies Welcome! sweet hour of rest and calm, Let nó unhallowed thought intrude When faith and hope with taper bright Pointing to realms of bliss above, Régions of innocence and love, Where néver breast shall heave a sigh, Where none are born and none shall die; Where spirits, that here lived in pain DALKEY LODGE, DALKEY (IRELAND), Febr. 9, 1855. SATURDAY clothed in plain drúgget “I'm so glád to meet you, sister," "Fróm before daylight this morning Till I've not a bóne but 's áching. "Cóme, do pút your hand to, síster; And you 're looking dúll and lánguid." "Nóthing would so múch delight me," "Bút I need not tell you, sister, Hów I máke 't a point of conscience Tó live always like a lády And with nó work soil my fingers. "Ánd even wére I, which I am not, Óf myself inclined to lábor, God's commandment is explícit: 'My seventh child shall dó no lábor'." "God's seventh child! why, thát 's myself," said Saturday laying down her rúbber; "Whát a foól I 've been to work so! Bút in future Í'll be wiser. "Hów came yoú so long to insist on 't "Twas the first child wás exémpted, Ánd make yoúr six younger sisters Wórk, to keep you like a lády? "Nów you 've lét by chánce the trúth out, It's the séventh child is exémpted Take the scrúbber; ón your kneés down; "You had once your túrn," said Sunday, "Bút you grew so proúd and saúcy Heaven or earth could not endúre it, Ánd your birthright was taken from you Ánd bestówed upón your bétters." "I remember well the robbery And how, nót t' expose the family, "I remember toó, my sisters, When they advised me tó keep quiet, ""Lét her háve it,' óne and áll cried; 'Privilége was éver ódious; Lét her have it, máke the most of it; Cóme, dear Sáturday, with ús work.' "Ĺ obeyed; you took my title; "Móre hardhearted, vain and selfish, Móre intolerant, súpercilious, Hypocritical, óverbeáring, Céremónious and religious, "Till at last the whole world hátes you, Fears you no less than despises, Calls you in plain térms impóstor, Foúl usurper óf my birthright." “Véry fine talk fór my lády Why! it's not my likeness, sister, "Faithful from your mémory drawing, Ás you were while you reigned mistress Ánd your flátterers lów before you Bówed and kissed the hém of your garment. "Who was 't then was óverbearing? Who was 't thén was súpercilious? Who was 't then was vain and sélfish, "And if nów you 're something wiser, "I'm to thank for 't, whó have taught you Thát ’twasnt you your flatterers cared for, Bút to have something to flátter, Ány idol to bow down to." Súch the Billingsgáte the sisters Flúng and réflung át each other; DALKEY LODGE, DALKEY (IRELAND), Dec. 25, 1854. |