ON A TOASTED MUFFIN.

(BY SIR E. L. B. L. B. L. B. LITTLE, BART., AUTHOR OF 'THE NEW SIMON,' ETC.)

Object belov'd! when day to eve gives place,

And Life's best nectar thy fond vot'ry sips,

How sweet to gaze upon thy shining face,

And press thy tender form unto my lips!

Fair as the Naiad of the Grecian stream,

And beautiful as Oread of the lawn;

Bright-beaming as the iv'ry-palac'd dream,

And melting as the dewy Urns of Dawn.

For thee I strike the sounding Lyre of Song,

And hymn the Beautiful, the Good, the True;

The dying notes of thankfulness prolong,

And light the Beacon-fires of Praise for you.

Butter'd Ideal of Life's coarser food!

Thou calm Egeria in a world of strife!

Antigone of crumpets! mild as good,

Decent in death, and beautiful in life!

Fairest where all is fare! shine on me still,

And gild the dark To-Morrow of my days;

In public Marts and crowded Senates thrill,

My soul, with Tea-time thoughts and Muffin lays.