But at last a lady entered, and my interest grew center’d In her figure, and her features, and the costume that she wore. And the slightest sound she utter’d was like music; so I mutter’d To my neighbour, “Glance a minute at your play-bill, I implore. Who’s that rare and radiant maiden? Tell, oh, tell me! I implore.” Quoth my neighbour, “Nelly Moore!” Then I ask’d in quite a tremble――it was useless to dissemble―― “Miss, or Madam, do not trifle with my feelings any more; Tell me who, then, was the maiden, that appear’d so sorrow laden In the room of David Garrick, with a bust above the door?” (With a bust of Julius Cæsar up above the study door.) Quoth my neighbour, “Nelly Moore.” * * * * * I’ve her photograph from Lacy’s; that delicious little face is Smiling on me as I’m sitting (in a draught from yonder door), And often in the nightfalls, when a precious little light falls From the wretched tallow candles on my gloomy second-floor, (For I have not got the gaslight on my gloomy second floor,) Comes an echo, “Nelly Moore!” _Carols of Cockayne_, by Henry S. Leigh (John Camden Hotten, London, 1872.) ―――――――― A RAVIN’. Once upon a midnight dreary, as I slumbered cross and weary, Cross from several horrid boring books of theologic lore, While they haunted me in napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some confounded rapping, rapping at my bedroom door. “’Tis some rascal,” low I muttered, “who’s too screwed to find his door,―― Only this and nothing more!” Ah! I vividly remember, it was in a cold December, And of fire I had no ember till the price of coals should low’r; Eagerly I wished the morrow; being broke, again I’ll borrow, Even although it end in sorrow, from an Uncle, loved of yore―― From a useful, prosp’rous Uncle, who to me is worth a score. Surely this, if nothing more! (_One verse omitted._) * * * * * Up I got, and ope’d the shutter, when without the slightest flutter, Sat a dissipated Tom-cat coolly down upon the floor; Though he looked exceeding shady, not a moment stopped or stayed he, But with impudence unheard of walked right to the bedroom door, Perched upon a corner cupboard just beside my bedroom door, Whisked his tail, and nothing more! (_Three verses omitted._) * * * * *