Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MANY YEARS AFTER. I Saw some books exposed for sale— Some dear, and some—drama and tale— As dear as any : A few, perhaps more orthodox Or torn, were tumbled in a box— " All these a penny." I open'd one at hazard, but Its leaves tho' soil'd were still uncut; And yet before I'd read a page, I felt indeed A wish to cut that leaf, and read Some pages more. A poet sang of what befel When, years before, he'd paced Pall Mall; MANY YEARS AFTER. 2$ While walking thus— A boy—he'd met a maiden. (Then Fair women all were brave, and men Were virtuous !) They oft had met, he wonder'd why ; He praised her sprightly bearing. (I Believe he meant it:) No word had pass'd, but if he smiled Her eyes had seem'd to say (poor child !) " I don't resent it." And then this poet mused and grieved, And spoke some kindly words, relieved By kindlier jest : Then he, with sad, prophetic glance, Bethought him she, ere then, perchance, Had found her rest. Then I was minded how my Joy Sometimes had told me of a boy With curly head— " You know," she'd laugh (she th was well!) " I used to meet him in Pall Mall— Ere I was wed." And then, in fun, she'd vow " Good lack, I'll go there now, and fetch thee back At least a curl! " She once was here, now she is gone I— And so, you see, my wife was yon Bright little girl. I am not one for shedding tears— That boy's now dead, or bow'd with years— But see—sometimes He'd thought of Her!—that made me weep; That's why I bought and why I keep His book of rhymes. TEMPORA MUTANTUR! He dropt a tear on Susan's bier. He seeid a most despairing swain ; Slit bluer sky Drought newer tie, And—would he misk her back again f The moments fly, and when we die, WillPhilly This...