The Funny Philosophers, or Wags and Sweethearts. A NovelYellott, George
General
The Funny Philosophers, or Wags and Sweethearts. A Novel
Yellott, George
Fiction
"A song from Mr. Pate!" cried the Professor.
"A song from Mr. Pate!" shouted Seddon.
"Mr. Pate will now sing," said Toney.
Thus urged, Pate seated himself, and in loud if not mellifluous tones
sang as follows:
The summer day's faded and starlight is streaming
In beautiful showers from heaven above;
And welcome sweet midnight! for then in its dreaming
My spirit is wafted away to my love.
Let others rejoicing, then welcome Aurora,
As fann'd by zephyrs she blushes so bright;
But midnight! sweet midnight! I'll ever adore her,
And mourn when the morning returns with its light.
"Mr. Pate," said the Professor, "if you wake the young lady up by
warbling that melody under her window, she will think that you are an
angel of magnificent proportions and tremendous vocal powers. Now, Mr.
Wiggins, it is your turn."
Wiggins cleared his throat and sang the following ditty:
Oh, maiden fair,
With raven hair,
And lips so sweetly pouting,
I do avow,
That until now,
I've in my mind been doubting
If 'twere not sin
To rank you in
The race of us poor mortals;
Thinking you might,
By some fair sprite,
Escaped from heaven's own portals.
But as I now
Gaze on that brow
So fondly and so madly,
I am afraid,
My lovely maid,
My fancy's lowered sadly;
For while 'mid bliss
So sweet as this
My soul's to rapture given,
Alas! my mind
Is more inclined
To earth than 'tis to heaven.
"Indeed, Mr. Wiggins, you must not warble that song under the young
lady's window," said the Professor.
"I do not intend to do so," said Wiggins.
"I am glad of that," said the Professor, "for if you did she would
imagine that you were some fallen angel on a midnight peregrination. And
now, Toney, let us hear from you."
Toney sang:
Come to the green grove! where wild vines are clinging
Around the tall elms, whose broad boughs are flinging
Their shade o'er the roof of the cottage so near
To the banks of the streamlet meandering clear.
There we'll recline 'neath the shade of the willow,
Where roses and lilies have wreathed a sweet pillow,
And the goldfinch concealed in the green boughs above
Is warbling all day to his beautiful love.
There we will watch the blithe humming-bird roving,
And purple-winged butterflies fairy-like moving
Among the blue violets that bloom at our feet,
And throw all around us their fragrance so sweet.
There thou shalt sing, love, and then as I hear thee,
Drink in thy soft tones, and know that I'm near thee,
I'll fancy 'tis Eden around me I see,
And thou art an angel to share it with me.
"Toney," said the Professor, "when the young lady hears that she will
suppose that the spirit of a troubadour is warbling under her window.
And now, Mr. Seddon."
Tom sang:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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