By the candle-light, in pumpkin bowls, By the rarer light in girlish eyes The cedar cakes with the ancient twist, The boys and girls in a double row MONEY MUSK. In shirt of check, and tallowed hair, On the brink of Father Nile. He feels the fiddle's slender neck, Picks out the note, with thrum and check; All ready! Now he gives the call,— The jolly tides of laughter fall And ebb in a happy smile. Begin." D-o-w-n comes the bow on every string. "First couple join hands and swing!" As light as any blue-bird's wing "Swing once and a half times round”. Whirls Mary Martin all in blue- Dance all to the dancing sound. She flits about big Moses Brown, And his heart turns over once He means to win the maiden yet, Alas, for the awkward dance! "Your stoga boot has crushed my toe! I'd rather dance with one-legged Joe! You clumsy fellow!" Pass below!" And the first pair dance apart. Then "Forward six!" advance, retreat, Like midges gay in sunbeam street. 'Tis Money Musk by merry feet ! And the Money Musk by heart! "Three quarters round your partner swing!" And have brought their roses out! They bring the dance about. Then clasping hands, all—" Right and left!"— Across the woof in loving weft, And the Money Musk is done! Oh, dancers of the rustling husk ! Good night, sweet hearts, 'tis growing dusk,- For the heavy march begun! BENJ. F. TAYLOR. I THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. SOMETIMES feel the thread of life is slender, And soon with me the labor will be wrought; Then grows my heart to other hearts more tender. The time, The time is short. A shepherd's tent of reeds and flowers decaying, The time is short. Up, up, my soul, the long-spent time redeeming ; The time is short. Think of the good thou might'st have done, when brightly The suns to thee life's choicest seasons brought; Hours lost to God in pleasures passing lightly. The time, The time is short. Think of the drooping eyes that might have lifted The time is short. Think of the feet that fall by misdirection; The time, The time is short. The time is short. Then be thy heart a brother's The time is short. If thou hast friends, give them thy best endeavor, The time is short. Each thought resentful from thy mind be driven, The time is short. Up, up, my soul, the shade will soon be falling; The time is short. By all the lapses thou hast been forgiven, The time is short. To others teach the overcoming power, That thee at last to God's sweet peace hath brought; Glad memories make to bless life's final hour. The time, The time is short. From what thou art each day, whate'er thy station, The time, The time is short. YOUTH'S COMPANION. ULYSSES. T little profits that an idle king, IT By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole Unequal laws unto a savage race, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me. |