Enjoy the social board with comforts rife.
Him have I seen when age crept on apace,
Portraying to the life some earlier part,
The soul of mirth reflected from his face,
While bitter pangs disturbed his throbbing heart.
One night we missed him from his ancient chair,
Placed by our host beside the blazing hearth;
Another passed, yet still he was not there,
Gone was the spirit of our former mirth!
The future came, and with it came the tale,