Little copier of the lives
Of thy playmate relatives,—
Mocker of the elder ones,-
How thy wayward fancy runs,
By light from thing own laughing eyes,
Its circle of sweet mimicries.
Oft in thy little face, I find

The flitting shadows of the mind
Pass and repass, as thou dost tease
That mind with infant sophistries :-
And then when no conclusion's near,
Thou, like a true philosopher,
Dost seek the joyous heart again,
And leave at rest the little brain.

Fare thee well, I've found in thee
Blithe and sweet society;
Merriment in drooping pain;
Pictures given back again
Of the pranks of childishness,
Ere I tasted of distress.

Fare thee well! may youth be slow
To pass from thee, who wear'st it so ;
For years are but the links of care,
To one so innocent and fair.

Around thee joy, within the truth,
Thou'rt worthy of perpetual youth !—
Worthy of that delight which lies
Within thy blue and pleasant eyes;
Worthy thy mother's fond caressing:-
I owe thee, Fanny, many a blessing,
For pranks of kindliness and glee,
And words of childish charity;

For pleasures generous, light, and many,-
And therefore do I bless thee, Fanny!

IT WAS NOT FOR THE DIAMOND RING.

BY W. KENNEDY.

It was not for the diamond ring upon your lily hand, It was not for your noble name, it was not for your

land,

I saw no gem, no lordly name, no broad domain with

thee,

The day you stole my trusting heart and peace of mind from me.

You came-I knew not whence you came-we met— 'twas in the dance

There was honey in each word of yours, and glamour in each glance.

Though many were around me then, I nothing saw but him,

Before whose brow of starry sheen fresh-fallen snow were dim.

You're gone!-it was a weary night we parted at the

burn;

You swore by all the stars above, that you would soon return;

That you would soon return, light love! and I your bride should be;

But backward will the burnie roll, ere you come back

to me.

They say, that soon a smiling dame of lineage like to thine,

Will take thee by the fickle hand, thy falsehood placed in mine;

The music and the rose-red wine to greet her will

appear

For wedding song a sigh I'll have, for bridal pledge

a tear.

236

IT WAS NOT FOR THE DIAMOND RING.

O would that thou hadst passed me by in coldness or in pride!

Nor wrought this deadly wrong to her who on thy truth relied:

The hunter's to the greenwood gone, his spear is in its rest,

But he'll not wound the trusting dove that shelters in his breast.

BEHAVE YOURSEL' BEFORE FOLK.

BY ALEXANDER RODGERS.

BEHAVE yoursel' before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk,
And dinna be sae rude to me,

As kiss me sae before folk.
It wouldna' gie me meikle pain,
Gin we were seen and heard by nane,
To tak' a kiss, or grant you ane;
But, gudesake! no before folk.
Behave yoursel' before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk-
Whate'er you do, when out o' view,
Be cautious aye before folk!

Consider, lad, how folks will crack,
And what a great affair they'll mak'
O' nathing but a simple smack,

That's gi'en or ta'en before folk.
Behave yoursel' before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk-

Nor gi'e the tongue o' old or young
Occasion to come o'er folk.

BEHAVE YOURSEL' BEFORE FOLK.

I'm sure wi' you I've been as free
As ony modest lass should be;
But yet it doesna' do to see

Sic freedom used before folk-
Behave yoursel' before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk-
I'll ne'er submit again to it;

So mind you that-before folk!

You tell me that my face is fair:
It may be sae-I dinna care-
But ne'er again gar't blush so sair
As ye hae done before folk.
Behave yoursel' before folk-
Behave yoursel' before folk-
Nor heat my cheeks wi' your mad freaks,
But aye be douce before folk!

Ye tell me that my lips are sweet :
Sic tales, I doubt, are a' deceit ;-
At only rate, it's hardly meet

To prie their sweets before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk,
Behave yoursel' before folk-

Gin that's the case, there's time and place,
But surely no before folk!

But gin ye really do insist

That I should suffer to be kiss'd,

Gae get a licence frae the priest,

And mak' me yours before folk!
Behave yoursel' before folk,

Behave yoursel' before folk

And when we're ane, baith flesh and bane,
Ye may tak' ten before folk!

237

THE SECRET.

IN a young lady's heart once a secret was lurking;
It tossed and it tumbled, it longed to get out;
The lips half betrayed it by smiling and smirking,
And the tongue was impatient to blab it, no doubt.

But Honour looked gruff on the subject, and gave it In charge to the teeth, so enchantingly white Should the captive attempt an elopement, to save it By giving the lips an admonishing bite.

"Twas said, and 'twas settled, and Honour departed;
Tongue quivered and trembled, but dared not rebel;
When right to its tip, Secret suddenly started,
And, half in a whisper, escaped from its cell.

Quoth the teeth, in a pet, we'll be even for this;
And they bit very smartly above and beneath;
But the lips at that instant were bribed with a kiss,
And they popped out the Secret, in spite of the teeth.

SONG.

BY PERCY ROLLE.

LEAVES quiver in the balmy air, the moon grows bright above,

Beauty is beaming every where 'tis just the hour for

love !

So calm, so silent, I could deem beneath yon arch of

blue

Breathe none besides myself, dear love, the nightingale and you!