1827.] The Return of the Golden Age. 51 



party, she was engaged in a sociable game at cards, which, by the 

 description, seems to have been long whist, with the identical widow 

 Glen, Simon Frazer and William Ford, and had actually won fivepence- 

 halfpenny of Martha's money ; the young folks were still dancing gayly, 

 to the sound of Timothy's fiddle, which fiddle had the good quality of 

 going on almost as well drunk as sober, and it was now playing solo, the 

 clarionet being hors-de-combat and the bassoon under the table. Tom 

 Martin, after shewing off more tricks than a monkey, amongst the rest 

 sewing the whole card-party together by the skirts, to the probable 

 damage of Mrs. Frost's gay gown, had returned to his old post by the 

 fire, and his old amusement of cracking walnuts, with the shells of 

 which he was pelting the little parish girl, who sate fast asleep on the 

 other side ; and Jacob Frost in all his glory, ?ate in a cloud of tobacco 

 smoke, roaring out catches with his old friend George Bridgwater, and 

 half a dozen other " drowthy cronies," whilst "aye the aye the ale 

 was growing better," and the Christmas party went merrily on. 



M. 



THE RETURN OF THE GOLDEN AGE. 

 [From the French of the President Henaut.] 



WHEREFORE regret those happy days, 



When Love was lord the wide world o'er ? 

 Our hearts from Time's dull tomb can raise 

 Those days, and all their bliss restore : 



Let us love let us love and again behold 

 The happy times of the Age of Gold. 



The flowers still flourish in our fields, 



As beautiful as then they were ; 

 The rose the same sweet odours yield ; 

 The birds the same bright plumage bear : 



Let us love let us love and again behold 

 The happy times of the Age of Gold. 



Still in the spring the nightingale 



Sings in the flower-enamelled meads ; 



And still the brooks love's same sweet tale, 



Whisper amidst the answering reeds 



Let us love let us love and again behold 

 The happy times of the Age of Gold. 



Still Zephyr breathes, and still doth he 



For Flora feel unchanging love ; 

 And still doth th* enamoured bee 

 Amongst the fair young lilies rove : 



Let us love let us love and again behold 

 The happy times of the Age of Gold. 



H.N 



H 



