ON LENDING A PUNCHBOWL.
This ancient silver bowl of mine—it tells of good old times.
Of joyous days and jolly nights, and merry Christmas chimes;
They were a free and jovial race, but honest, brave and true,
That dipped their ladle in the punch when this old bowl was new.
A Spanish galleon brought the bar—so runs the ancient tale—
Twas hammered by an Antwerp smith, whose arm was like a flail;
And now and then between the strokes, for fear his strength should fail,
He wiped his brow, and quaffed a cup of good old Flemish ale.
'Twas purchased by an English squire to please his loving dame,