That used to wet his lashes when
A boy seems troubling him again;--

The old emotion, sweet and wild,
That drove him truant when a child,

That he might hide the tears that fell
Above the lesson--"Little Nell."

And so it is he puts aside
The poem he has vainly tried

To follow; and, as one who sighs
In failure, through a poor disguise

Of smiles, he dries his tears, to say
His eyes are not themselves to-day.

[Illustration: The old school-chum--tailpiece]

{114}

[Illustration: My jolly friend's secret--headpiece]

MY JOLLY FRIEND'S SECRET

Ah, friend of mine, how goes it
Since you've taken you a mate?--
Your smile, though, plainly shows it
Is a very happy state!
Dan Cupid's necromancy!
You must sit you down and dine,
And lubricate your fancy
With a glass or two of wine.

{115}

[Illustration: Ah, friend of mine, how goes it]

{117}

And as you have "deserted,"
As my other chums have done,
While I laugh alone diverted,
As you drop off one by one---
And I've remained unwedded,
Till--you see--look here--that I'm,
In a manner, "snatched bald-headed"
By the sportive hand of Time!

I'm an "old 'un!" yes, but wrinkles
Are not so plenty, quite,
As to cover up the twinkles
Of the _boy_--ain't I right?
Yet there are ghosts of kisses
Under this mustache of mine
My mem'ry only misses
When I drown 'em out with wine.

From acknowledgment so ample,
You would hardly take me for
What I am--a perfect sample
Of a "jolly bachelor";
Not a bachelor has being
When he laughs at married life
But his heart and soul's agreeing
That he ought to have a wife!

{118}

Ah, ha! old chum, this claret,
Like Fatima, holds the key
Of the old Blue-Beardish garret
Of my hidden mystery!
Did you say you'd like to listen?
Ah, my boy! the "_Sad No More!_"
And the tear-drops that will glisten--
_Turn the catch upon the door,_

And sit you down beside me
And put yourself at ease--
I'll trouble you to slide me
That wine decanter, please;
The path is kind o' mazy
Where my fancies have to go,
And my heart gets sort o' lazy
On the journey--don't you know?

Let me see--when I was twenty--
It's a lordly age, my boy,
When a fellow's money's plenty,
And the leisure to enjoy--

{119}

And a girl--with hair as golden
As--_