Select Poetry.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3436, 29 December 1879, Page 1

Select Poetry.

The 2nd of the Play. ♦ (From " Dr. Birch and his \oung Friends "-a Chrutm«s Ta!e by Thackeray.) The play is done; the curtain drops, Slow falling to the prompters bell; A moment yet tho actor stops, And looks around to cay farewell. It is an irksome word and task; And when no's laughed and said his say, He shows, as he removes the mask, A face that's anything but gay. One word, ere yet the evening ends, Let's close it with a parting rhyme, And pledge a hand to all young friends As fitß the merry Christmas time. On life's wide scene you, too, have p«rt# That Fate ere long shall bid yon play, Good night! with honest gentle hearts A kindly greeting go alway! Good night! I'd say, the griefs, the joyß, Just hinted in this mimic page, The triumphs and defeats of boys, Are but repeated in our age. I'd say your wods are not less keen, Your hopes more vain than those of 4 men ; Your pangs or pleasures of fifteen At forty-five played o'er again. I'd say, wo suffer and we strive, \ Nob less nor more as men than boys; With grizzled beards at forty-five, As erst at twelve in corduroys. And if, in time of sacred youth, Wo learnod at homo to love and pray, Pray heaven that early Love and Truth May never wholly paBS away. And in tho world, as in the school, I'd say, how fate may change and shift; Tho prize be sometimes with the fool, . The race not always with the swift. The strong may yield, the good may fall, The great man bo a vulgar clown, The knave be lifted over all, Tho kind cast pitilessly down. * * * * « Come wealth or want, come good or ill, Let young and old accept their part And bow before tho Awful Will, And bear it with an honest heart. Who misses or who wins the prize, Go, lose or conquor as you can 5 But if you fail, or if you rise, . . Be each, pray God, a gentleman. A gentleman, or old or young! (Bear kindly with my humble lays); The sacred chorus first was sung Upon the first of Christmas days: The shepherds heard it over-head— The joyful angels raie»d it then; Glory to Heaven on high, it said, And peace on earth to gentlemen. My song, save this, is little worth; I lay the weary pen aside, And wish yon health, and love, and mirth, As fits the solemn Christinas-tide. As fits tho holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol still— Be peace on earth., be peace on earth, To men of gentle will.