The World’s Wit and Humor: An Encyclopedia in 15 Volumes. 1906.
Fitz-Greene Halleck (17901867)Domestic Happiness
“B
The bard of Eden sings;
“Young Love his constant lamp will light,
And wave his purple wings.”
But raindrops from the clouds of care
May bid that lamp be dim,
And the boy Love will pout and swear,
’Tis then no place for him.
’Tis wrong to mention names;
When for her surly husband’s cash
She urged in vain her claims.
“I want a little money, dear,
For Vandervoort and Flandin,
Their bill, which now has run a year,
To-morrow mean to hand in.”
“You’ll drive me to despair;”
The lady was too proud to weep,
And too polite to swear.
She bit her lip for very spite,
He felt a storm was brewing,
And dream’d of nothing else all night,
But brokers, banks, and ruin.
Have sure a wondrous power,
For to his eye the lady seems
Quite later’d since that hour;
And Love, who on their bridal eve
Had promised long to stay,
Forgot his promise, took French leave,
And bore his lamp away.