"Come, come, my dear, these flighty airs declare, in sober

truth,

You want as much in age, indeed, as I can want in youth; Besides, you said you liked old men, though now at me you

66

huff."

Why, yes," she said, "and so I do--but you're not old

enough!"

"Come, come, my dear, let's make it up, and have a quiet

hive;

I'll be the best of men,-I mean, I'll be the best alive!

Your grieving so will kill me, for it cuts me to the core.""I thank ye, sir, for telling me-for now I'll grieve the more ! "

A Winter Nosegay.

A WINTER NOSEGAY.

H, wither'd winter Blossoms,

Dowager-flowers,-the December vanity.

In antiquated visages and bosoms.

What are ye planned for,

Unless to stand for

Emblems, and peevish morals of humanity?

F

There is my Quaker Aunt,

A Paper-Flower,-with a formal border

No breeze could e'er disorder,

Pouting at that old beau-the Winter Cherry,
A pucker'd berry ;

And Box, like a tough-liv'd annuitant,-
Verdant alway-

From quarter-day even to quarter-day;
And poor old Honesty, as thin as want,
Well named-God-wot;

Under the baptism of the water-pot,

The very apparition of a plant;
And why,

Dost hold thy head so high,

Old Winter-Daisy ;—

Because thy virtue never was infirm,

Howe'er thy stalk be crazy?

That never wanton fly, or blighting worm, Made holes in thy most perfect indentation? 'Tis likely that sour leaf,

To garden thief,

Forcepp'd or wing'd, was never a temptation ;—
Well, still uphold thy wintry-reputation;
Still shalt thou frown upon all lovers' trial :
And when, like Grecian maids, young maids of ours
Converse with flow'rs,

Then thou shalt be the token of denial.

Away! dull weeds,

Born without beneficial use or needs!

Fit only to deck out cold winding sheets;
And then not for the milkmaid's funeral-bloom,
Or fair Fidele's tomb-

To tantalize,-vile cheats!

Some prodigal bee, with hope of after-sweets, Frigid, and rigid,

As if ye never knew
One drop of dew,

Or the warm sun resplendent;

Indifferent of culture and of care,

Giving no sweets back to the fostering air,
Churlishly independent-

I hate ye, of all breeds;

Yea, all that live so selfishly-to self,
And not by interchange of kindly deeds-
Hence from my shelf!

EQUESTRIAN COURTSHIP.

T was a young maiden went forth to ride, And there was a wooer to pace by her side; His horse was so little, and hers so high, He thought his Angel was up in the sky.

His love was great, though his wit was small;
He bade her ride easy-and that was all.
The very horses began to neigh,--
Because their betters had nought to say.

They rode by elm, and they rode by oak,

They rode by a church-yard, and then he spoke :"My pretty maiden, if you 'll agree

You shall always amble through life with me."

The damsel answer'd him never a word,

But kick'd the grey mare, and away she spurr'd.
The wooer still follow'd behind the jade,

And enjoy'd like a wooer-the dust she made.