shall not be "Albert" nor "Arthur,"
Though both are respectable men,
His name shall be that of his father,
My Benjamin shorten'd to "Ben."

Yes, much as I wish for a corner
In each of my relative's wills,
I will not be reckon'd a fawner--
That creaking of boots must be Squills.

It is clear, though his means may be narrow,
This infant his age will adorn;
I shall send him to Oxford from Harrow--
I wonder how soon he'll be born.

A spouse thus was airing his fancies
Below--'twas a labour of love--
And calmly reflecting on Nancy's
More practical labour above.

Yet while it so pleas'd him to ponder,
Elated, at ease, and alone,
That pale, patient victim up yonder
Had budding delights of her own;

Sweet thoughts in their essence diviner
Than dreams of ambition and pelf;
A cherub, no babe will be finer,
Invented and nursed by herself!

One breakfasting, dining, and teaing,
With appetite nought can appease,
And quite a young Reasoning Being
When called on to yawn and to sneeze.

What cares that heart, trusting and tender,
For fame or avuncular wills;
Except for the name and the gender,
She is almost as tranquil as Squills.

That father, in reverie centr'd,
Dumfoundered, his brain in a whirl,
Heard Squills--as the creaking boots enter'd,--
Announce that his Boy was--a GIRL.

THE WIDOW'S MITE

ST MARK'S GOSPEL, chap. xii. verses 42, 43, 44

The widow had but only one,
A puny and decrepid son;
But day and night,
Though fretful oft, and weak, and small,
A loving child, he was her all--
The widow's mite.

The widow's might--yes! so sustain'd
She battled onward, nor complain'd
Though friends were fewer:
And, cheerful at her daily care,
A little crutch upon the stair
Was music to her.

I saw her then, and now I see,
Though cheerful and resign'd, still she
Has sorrow'd much:
She has--HE gave it tenderly--
Much faith--and carefully laid by
A little crutch.

ST GEORGE'S, HANOVER SQUARE

"Dans le_ bonheur_ de nos meilleurs amis nous trouvons souvent
quelque chose qui ne nous plait pas entierement."

She pass'd up the aisle on the arm of her sire,
A delicate lady in bridal attire,
Fair emblem of virgin simplicity:
Half London was t