POST-PRANDIAL VERSES.

RECITED AT THE FESTIVAL OF THE PSI UPSILON FRATER

NITY, IN BOSTON, JULY 21, 1853.

EAR Brothers, who sit at this bountiful board,

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With excellent viands so lavishly stored,

That, in newspaper phrase, 't would undoubtedly groan, If groaning were but a convivial tone,

Which it is n't,

and therefore, by sympathy led,

The table, no doubt, is rejoicing instead.

Dear Brothers, I rise, — and it won't be surprising
If you find me, like bread, all the better for rising, –
I rise to express my exceeding delight

In our cordial reunion this glorious night!

Success to "PSI UPSILON!"— Beautiful name!-
To the eye and the ear it is pleasant the same;
Many thanks to old Cadmus who made us his debtors,
By inventing, one day, those capital letters

Which still, from the heart, we shall know how to speak
When we 've fairly forgotten the rest of our Greek!

To be open and honest in all that you do;
To every high trust to be faithful and true;
In aught that concerns morality's scheme,
To be more ambitious to be than to seem;
To cultivate honor as higher in worth
Than favor of fortune, or genius, or birth;
By every endeavor to render your lives
As spotless and fair as your

possible wives;

To treat with respect all the innocent rules

That keep us at peace with society's fools;

But to face every canon that e'er was designed
To batter a town or beleaguer a mind,

Ere you yield to the Moloch that Fashion has reared
One jot of your freedom, or hair of your beard,
All this, and much more, I might venture to teach,
Had I only a "call " — and a "license to preach
But since I have not, to my modesty true,
I'll lay it all by as a layman should do —
And drop a few lines, tipt with Momus's flies,
To angle for shiners - that lurk in your eyes!

May you ne'er get in love or in debt with a doubt
As to whether or no you will ever get out;

May you ne'er have a mistress who plays the coquette,

Or a neighbor who blows on a cracked clarionet ;

May you learn the first use of a lock on your door,
And ne'er, like Adonis, be killed by a bore;
Shun canting and canters with resolute force;
(A "canter" is shocking, except in a horse ;)
At jovial parties mind what you are at,
Beware of your head and take care of your hat,
Lest you find that a favorite son of your mother
Has a brick in the one and an ache in the other;
May you never, I pray, to worry your life,
Have a weak-minded friend, or a strong-minded wife;
A tailor distrustful, or partner suspicious;

A dog that is rabid, or nag that is vicious;

Above all the chief blessing the gods can impart

May you keep a clear head and a generous heart;
Remember 't is blessed to give and forgive;
Live chiefly to love, and love while you live;
And dying, when life's little journey is done,
May your last, fondest sigh, be PSI UPSILON!

"A

THE SILVER WEDDING.

TO JOHN NEWMAN, D. D.

WEDDING of Silver ! and what shall we do?"

I said in response to my excellent spouse, Who hinted, this morning, we ought to renew,

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According to custom, our conjugal vows.

"I would n't much mind it, now — if — and suppose The bride were a blooming- Ah! well-on my life,

I think - to be candid — (don't turn up your nose !)

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That every new wedding should bring a new wife!"

And, what if it should?" was the laughing reply; "Do you think, my dear John, you could ever obtain Another so fond and faithful as I,

Should you purchase a wig, and go courting again?"

And, clasping a waist rather shapely than small,

I kissed the dear girl in so ardent a way

You would n't have guessed we were married at all!

My wedding-day, Doctor, is also your own!

And so I send greeting to bridegroom and bride, — The latter a wife good as ever was known;

The former well worthy her homage and pride.

God bless your new nuptials! - Still happy at home, May you both grow serenely and gracefully old; And, till the auriferous wedding shall come,

Find the years that are past were as silver to gold! September 9, 1866.

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.

OOD by, Old Year! — I can but say,

Goo

Sadly I see thee passing away;
Passing away with the hopes and fears,
The bliss and pain, the smiles and tears,
That come to us all in all the years.

Good by, Old Year!— Little indeed
Thy friendly voice we were wont to heed,
Telling us, warning us every day : —
"Transient mortals! work and pray;
You, like me, are passing away!"

Good by, Old Year! - Whatever may be
The sins and stains thou hast chanced to see,
Consider, O Year! to purge the same,

And wash away the sin and shame,

Whilst thou wert passing, CHRISTMAS came !

Good by, Old Year! — With words of grace
Leave us to him who takes thy place;

And say, Old Year, unto the New,
"Kindly, carefully, carry them through,
For much, I ween, they have yet to do!"

From lips which were never accustomed to malice; · A girl with a presence superb as her name,

And charmingly fitted for love — in a palace! And oft I have wished (for in musing alone

One's fancy is apt to be very erratic)

That the lady might wear - No! I never will own
A thought so decidedly undemocratic !

But if 't were a coronet · this I'll aver,

No duchess on earth could more gracefully wear it; And even a democrat — thinking of her

Might surely be pardoned for wishing to share it!

ROGER BONTEMPS.

IMITATED FROM BERANGER.

I.

BY way of good example

To all the gloomy clan,

There came into existence

Good Robin Merryman.

To laugh at those who grumble,
And be jolly as he can,

O that's the only system
Of Robin Merryman!