ings them to the goal
Their fancy pictured; hearts that droop and break:
Upon life's thorny way; old age that sees
Long-hoped for peace among the silent dead
And deems it life to die. The shadow falls
Athwart the sunny hopes of every heart,
And shadowy most when gentle arms extend
For love's embrace, and find it not--as night
Is darkest near the dawn. Brighter the flame
Of light celestial 'twixt which and our hearts
The blessed Cross doth stand, sharper the shade
That falls upon our lives, as greatest gains
Involve the pains of great adventurings;
Or, nearer Death, nearer eternal Life.

CURATES AND COLLIERS.

ON READING IN A COMIC PAPER VERY ABSURD COMPARISONS
BETWEEN THE WAGES OF CURATES AND COLLIERS.

If colliers were curates, and curates were colliers,
I wonder what price the best coal would be then;
Whether meat would be dearer, or Heaven be nearer,
Or truth be less earnestly preached among men.

I know that the incomes of curates are slender;
But curates get luxuries colliers ne'er see,
Which they don't have to pay for, nor work night and day for,
In mines dark and slushy on back and bent knee.

Keep pulpits for curates--but pay them good stipends:
Keep mines for the colliers--but pay colliers well:
O, the Pit--no detraction--brings Pulpit reaction,
For pulpits would sicken if collieries fell.

Then go, sneering cynic--write nonsense and fiction
On champagne and velvet, on satin and sin;
Though the joke may be able, 'tis false as a fable,
And shows what a fog Fleet-street sometimes gets in.

WANTED: A WIFE.

A VOICE FROM THE LADIES.

Being a reply to "M. C. D.," who advertised in a Swansea Newspaper for
a wife, 1856.

Deputed by some lady friends,
Who think, with me, when ought offends,
'Tis best to have it out at once,
Not nurse your wrath like moping dunce,
I venture forth--(now don't be hard,
And sneer, "Dear me, a female bard!"
I'm not the only Bard that's seen
Inditing verse in crinoline. (_a_)
I say--deputed by a few
Young ladies: 'tis no matter who:
I come--(of vict'ry little chance)--
With "M. C. D." to break a lance;
To intimate our great surprise
To hear ourselves called--merchandise,
To be obtained--(there's no disguising
The fact)--obtained by advertising!
Obtained for better or for worse,
Just like a pony, pig, or horse.
And now, Sir, Mister "M. C.