For when they left the plain, Oh! 'twas merry in the hall, We shall never see the like again! 'Twas then the Christmas tale was told Of goblin, ghost, or fairy, And they cheer'd the hearts of the tenants old With a cup of good canary. And they each took a smack Of the cold black-jack, Till the fire burn'd in each brain; May we soon see the like again! THE GOOD TIME COMING. CHARLES MACKAY. The music by HENRY RUSSELL, THERE's a good time coming, boys, We may not live to see the day, But earth shall glisten in the ray Of the good time coming. Cannon balls may aid the truth, But thought's a weapon stronger; We'll win our battle by its aid ;— Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming, boys, The pen shall supersede the sword, Worth, not Birth, shall rule mankind, There's a good time coming, boys, A good time coming: In the good time coming. To prove which is the stronger; There's a good time coming, boys, Shall not make their martyrs bleed There's a good time coming, boys, In the good time coming. To make his right arm stronger; There's a good time coming, boys, In the good time coming. But shall play in healthful fields Till limbs and mind grow stronger; And every one shall read and write ; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming, boys, The people shall be temperate, In the good time coming. They shall use and not abuse, There's a good time coming, boys, The good time coming. Smallest helps, if rightly given, Make the impulse stronger; "Twill be strong enough one day ;— Wait a little longer. These verses appeared originally in the second number of the "Daily News," as one of the series entitled "Voices from the Crowd." KING DEATH. BARRY CORNWALL. From "English Songs," 1834. The music by Chevalier NEUKOMM, KING DEATH was a rare old fellow, There came to him many a maiden The scholar left all his learning, And the beauty her bloom returning, Hurrah! for the cold-black wine. All came to the rare old fellow, Who laugh'd till his eyes dropp'd brine, LITTLE FOOLS AND GREAT ONES. CHARLES MACKAY. From "Legends of the Isles, and other Poems," 1845. The music by HENRY RUSSELL. WHEN at the social board you sit, That heaven in kindness gave the grape To cheer both great and small- And when in youth's too fleeting hours And have not sought some loving heart, And if a friend deceived you once, In weal or woe, be truthful still, Let work and hope go hand in hand, That little fools will hope too much, But great ones not at all. |