THE MAIDEN'S DREAM OF LIFE.
"Tell us not, in idle jingle,
'Marriage is an empty dream!'
For the girl is dead that's single,
And things are not what they seem.
"Life is real! life is earnest!
Single blessedness a fib;
Man thou art, to man returnest,
Has been spoken of the rib.
"Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act that each to-morrow
Finds us nearer marriage-day.
"Life is long, and youth is fleeting,
And our hearts are light and gay;
Still like pleasant drums are beating
Wedding marches all the day.
"In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb-driven cattle!
Be a heroine—a wife!
"Trust no future, howe'er pleasant;
Let the dead past bury its dead;
Act—act in the living present,
Hoping for a spouse ahead.
"Lives of married folk remind us
We can live our lives as well,
And departing leave behind us
Such examples as will 'tell';
"Such examples that another,
Wasting time in idle sport,
A forlorn, unmarried brother,
Seeing shall take heart and court.
"Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart on triumph set;
Still contriving, still pursuing,
And each one a husband get."
ON CAMPBELL'S "Lives of the Chancellors."
Lives of great men misinform us
Campbell's Lives in this sublime,
Errors frightfully enormous,
Misprints on the sands of time.
HE interest which is taken in this collection by many of the subscribers is shewn by their kind permission to quote Parodies from their works; by the information they have sent as to out-of-the-way books in which others may be found; and, further, by their contribution of original Parodies.
The author of the following introduction to this series, is well known for his charming pathetic poems. From the first he has rendered most valuable assistance; having formed a large collection of Parodies, he has kindly placed them at the Editor's disposal, and they will be inserted under the respective authors to whom they apply.