Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/469
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CELIBACY VERSUS MATRIMONY.
451
Though children, too truly, are often unruly,
And boys may be sometimes too lavish of treasure,
Yet few, rich or poor, ever lived I am sure,
That did not afford to their parents much pleasure.
If all men of this, and of all other bliss
That wedlock contains, were but fully aware,
Not one in a score, the nation all o'er,
Would wish any more to have bachelor's fare.
And boys may be sometimes too lavish of treasure,
Yet few, rich or poor, ever lived I am sure,
That did not afford to their parents much pleasure.
If all men of this, and of all other bliss
That wedlock contains, were but fully aware,
Not one in a score, the nation all o'er,
Would wish any more to have bachelor's fare.
The Married Man's Fare.
Happy and free are a married man's reveries;
Cheerily, merrily, passes his life;
He knows not the bachelor's revelries, devilries,
Caressed by, and blessed by, his children and wife.
From lassitude free too, his home still to flee to,
A pet on his knee too, his kindness to share,
A fireside so cheery, the smiles of his deary,—
Oh, this, boys, this is the married man's fare.
Cheerily, merrily, passes his life;
He knows not the bachelor's revelries, devilries,
Caressed by, and blessed by, his children and wife.
From lassitude free too, his home still to flee to,
A pet on his knee too, his kindness to share,
A fireside so cheery, the smiles of his deary,—
Oh, this, boys, this is the married man's fare.
Wife, kind as an angel, sees things never range ill,
Busy promoting his comfort around,
Dispelling dejection with smiles of affection,
Sympathising, advising, when fortune has frowned.
Old ones relating, droll tales never stating,
Little ones prating, all strangers to care;
Some romping, some jumping, some punching, some munching,
Economy dealing the married man's fare.
Busy promoting his comfort around,
Dispelling dejection with smiles of affection,
Sympathising, advising, when fortune has frowned.
Old ones relating, droll tales never stating,
Little ones prating, all strangers to care;
Some romping, some jumping, some punching, some munching,
Economy dealing the married man's fare.
Thus is each jolly day, one lively holiday:
Not so the bachelor, lonely, depressed—
No gentle one near him, no home to endear him,
In sorrow to cheer him, no friend if no guest;
No children to climb up—'twould fill all my rhyme up,
And take too much time up, to tell his despair;
Cross housekeeper meeting him, cheating him, beating him,
Bills pouring, maids scouring, devouring his fare.
Not so the bachelor, lonely, depressed—
No gentle one near him, no home to endear him,
In sorrow to cheer him, no friend if no guest;
No children to climb up—'twould fill all my rhyme up,
And take too much time up, to tell his despair;
Cross housekeeper meeting him, cheating him, beating him,
Bills pouring, maids scouring, devouring his fare.
He has no one to put on a sleeve or neck button—
Shirts mangled to rags—drawers stringless at knee;
The cook to his grief too, spoils pudding and beef too,
With overdone, underdone, undone is he;
No son, still a treasure, in business or leisure;
No daughter, with pleasure, new joys to prepare;
But old maids and cousins, kind souls! rush in dozens,
Believing him soon of his bachelor's fare.
Shirts mangled to rags—drawers stringless at knee;
The cook to his grief too, spoils pudding and beef too,
With overdone, underdone, undone is he;
No son, still a treasure, in business or leisure;
No daughter, with pleasure, new joys to prepare;
But old maids and cousins, kind souls! rush in dozens,
Believing him soon of his bachelor's fare.
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