(A Valentine.)

I

I DREAMT-alas! 'twas but a dream

I was in a balloon,

Which in its upward course did seem To travel towards the moon.

2

And in the car along with me
Were three angelic creatures,
Whom I discovered soon to be
Perfect in form and features.

3

I thought what sport we would enjoy

Together in the clouds,

Free from the noise and base alloy
Of vulgar earthly crowds.

4

And as we up and up advanced,

We now and then peeped down,

And through our opera glasses glanced Upon Boulogne's fair town.

5

Outside a house in "Rue l'Ecu"
We spied a female mob

Gazing at a good man and true,
Who seemed to sit and sob.

6

I marvelled why so good a man
Should thus sit down to cry;

And my companions began

To look ashamed and sigh.

7

Then suddenly I recognised

Their once familiar faces

As those of friends most highly prized— My own "three Boulogne graces!"

8

Forthwith I scribbled a brief note:

"Dear friend! don't be alarmed; The relatives on whom you doat

Are safe-and won't be harmed.

9

"They're only going to the moon
To get a change of air;

I'll bring back to you very soon
Each pretty truant fair!"

ΙΟ

I dropped the note, and saw it fall

Close to his very toes;

Which made him start, and loudly bawl,

And cock aloft his nose.

!

II

He raised his hands in great amaze,

His wife waved hers to him;
Then we got shrouded in a haze,
And all around grew dim!

12

So, having nothing else to do,
Pray deem it not amiss

If I confess ('twixt me and you)

The dear things thought it no more crime

Than though I were their brother;

And then, to while away the time,
Each gave to me—another!

14

So thus, lost in the clouds, we passed A very happy hour;

But such joys were too sweet to last, Without soon turning sour.

15

For lo! as we drew near the moon, A wandering star rushed out, And tore the silk of our balloon,

And put us all to rout!

16

What next befell I cannot say,

But I awoke in bed,

And then found out, to my dismay, A bandage round my head.

17

I long to learn how matters fare

With my companions three, But to my wife I would not dare

Reveal my little spree!

A "Farewell" at Pau.

I

MAIDEN! yon soaring eagle mark!

I would that I were he,

And you a lively little lark;

How happy we might be!

2

I'd pounce upon you in the sky
While practising your hymn,
And to some lofty peak I'd fly,
To some nook snug and trim.

3

I would not eat you, lovely maid!

For that I'm much too wary; But I'd invoke the timely aid

Of some kind-hearted fairy;