12
THE HESPERIAN
BIXBY'S RETREAT,
City papers who dlip 'so profusely from these
columns will "kindly ;give credit where credit iis
due.
Bear in mind, gentle reader, lliat parties wisli
ling to sprout full Ibeards in three days keep
tgilt-edged editions of "Bix's Retreat" an cthelr
Ibosom pocket. "Some have even lieen iknown tto
.grow 'red-headed in a minute.
But 'vain, are .all the fondest hopes of tman,
Like wonder glasses; all the scenes they sliow
In tantallizing distance .come .and ;go;
Each one a prelude to somesTiatter'ld p'lan.
The pilPring wretch must one day hear tfhe Ijan,
And .deeper age by age his hopeless -woe
Swept seaward by his passion's undertow
When joins his being with its like in .dlan.
The former 'truth, oh, Betas mine pray learn
IKinow too, that goats like all things else .are .dean,
That William was a refugee of did.
The 'latter lesson, if the Psis -will qpurn,
That llileating in the .cellar may H fear
Assign 'i hem to the left-hand, long-lbeard fold.
i wonder where that willain iis
Who -.stood there 'by my 'door
And ground out antiquated jjdkes,
Hike 'beast with ears -"galore.'"
Q thought to scalp him where he -stood,
0r 'loosen in their .casement,
Those wheels of his, but when Q stirred,
He scampered to the basement.
a thundered down the darkeritd stairs
The wind blew through my whiskers
Jt would have done me good to slay
About J'steun" such young fngkers.
But when 1 saw my skulking prey
lEndeav'xing hard to squeeze
His framework through asix-indh hole,
1 had to stop and sneeze.
1 set upon him "hammer'n tongB"
And thought 1 had him fadud,
But all at onue he shrank homewlhat,
Just like a foot-ball jaded
(He thought while crawling through .that lidle
Hpw mean 'he'd been, 3 t'hiriking.
Begot somehow a change of ihear.t,
And that .explains 'his Shrinking.
((Epitome o! Tsot. Bumett'B.experionce ub (tola" Iby
lliimBolf.')
1 gave my friead Boomer a bright silver dime
His hair iis cut .at last;
Has smiles iionv so -wide, 1 turn tup .a side-stree
tin .order to ;get past.
Dkqwkhcg AngdoSaxoniotu.
(To umOld Mulfl TWunUfl
a'The years are fleeting fast, 1 .sit .alone
And ponder o'ler my life that's jgone,
Wihiile yonder -sun sets .gray, .and shadows ttall
"Fall on my spirits like .a pall,
As evening mists .arise.
U loo"k in vain,
Nor see lut shadows in tt!he lane;
Nor hear "his step; xior pleading accents hear;
Nor llij)S press lips; mor liearts Ibeat freer;
Nor Mush .tr .glad t.uipnlsc.
"U .did mot mean it. When he bade "good-aught
And pressed my liand, and turned, this hopes
'were 'blight.
The -ninth to woo, the ininth to igol Too fast
"liliey ve oome; but will he (be the (last
To sit, while hours speed .on,
With fond caress,
And sweetest vows .of love .confess?
Encircled in his arms, any latest Ibliss
To feel the -imprint of 'his 'kiss
But mow he's gone!
"Q see lit .all;. earths 'brightest flowers ttJlow
But tonce, fhen fade .away- 'J Iknow
Uve lhad xny .day; yd -suitors sometimes wait
Till Hater life .to .choose their mates!
May II yet comfort "borrow?
Hiine amorous heart
Too Hong hath played .a .double parti
HVe Ibrdken Ihearts; to-tnight tmy town iis trent
With igrief. My courtship .days were -spent
Hin .others sonrow.
"Bed-dmeyou ay f Come, sister, (bring tthe Uamji,
My mheumatiz gcows worsu,the vawening's idamjjj
Chills uny .did hones. There, ,dhUd,plaue unylbadk
hair
(Upon the .dresser. Set tilhe powder tf here
Beside those mut-brown frizzes.
Ulhe past forget
ITU1 (be'her loving daughter yetl
-oimdldestfounls are purest tr'Ulets sprung
fl wonder -If my heart's asyxmng,
To-night, as ihistB?"
fe