The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-10
LITERARY EXAMINER.


Thachsray's Christmas Boek.
Mr.. Thackeray closes his Christmas Book
"Dr. Birch and his Young Friends" Pictur
Of human life In miniature, which Is illustrate
with equal humor and moral strength, with tn
following poem. thus happily characterised B.
the London Examiner. "The 'EPilogue' Is
Christmas Carol, in some dozen stanzas, simPl
and sincerely written, In verse Of very msD'.
and current cadence. Every one viii libs u
read IL, and like the writer better after raacinI
IT, Whatever In other respects Mr.. 2itmarsl
may affect, sr whatever character b may mex
assume, this is rRUE, and is 10 be sead with tn
unaffected admiration which trrsh exacis frou
everybody
RPILoGJE.
The play IS dszssshe crrtain drops,
$50 fsllsuF. TO the pseppter's bell;
a moment YET the actor keRs,
And looks around 10 say farewsA
= IA IL al. irksome word and task;
And when he's laughed and said his sayH.
He shows he removes the mask,
A fscs hats anything butgay, y
One word, ere yet the evening ends.
Lets close II with parting rhyme,
An. pledge hand to all young friends,
A, fits the merry Christmas time.
CO life'swiId scene, you, too, have parts,
That fate ere long shall bid you plays
Good night. with honest gentle hearts
A kindly greeting 60 Away!
Good night.-rd say, the grieis, the joys,
just limited In this mimic page:
The triumphs and defeats Of boys
Are but repeated in our age. -
I'D say, your woes were not less keen,
Your hopes more vain than those of men;
Your pangs or pleasures Of fifteen e
Atforty-hve played Ger again
I'D say we suffsrand we strive
Not less nor more as men than boys
With grizIled boards at forty
As srst at twelve in corduroys.
And IL in time Of sacred youth
We learned at home to love and pray:
Pray Heaven, that early love ard truth
May never wholly pass away.
And in the world as in the school,,
10 say how fate may change and shift;
The prize be sometimes with the fool,
The raee not always with the swift.
Thestrong may yield, the good may Gall,
The great man be a vulgar clown.
The knAve be lifted over all,
The kind cast pitilessly down.
Who knows the inscrntabIs design7
Blessed be he who took and gave
Why should jour mother, Charles. not mine
Be wssping at her darling's gravel
= Ne bow to Heaven that willed il so,
That darkly rulesthe fate of all,
Thatsends the respite or the blow,
That's free 10 give or TO recall.
This crowns his feast with wine and wit:
Who brought him u that mirih and state3
His betters, see, below him sit,
Or hunger hopeless at the gate.
Who babe the mud from Dives wheel
To sPurn the TagsOf Lazarus7
Come, brother, an that aust we'll kneel
COnfessing Heaven tina; ruled il thus.
SO each shall mourn in Rfs's advance
Dear hopes, dear friends, unt.mely killed;
Shall grievs for many isrfeit chance,
!. And longing passion unfal6lled,
sAmen, whatever fate be sent,
Pray Cod the heart may kindly glow,
Although the head with care be bent,
aad whi;ened with the winter snow.
&ns wealth or want, or good or III.
x<fss oang sad old accept their part;
AND bow before the awful will,
AnS bear II wlth an honest heart.
who misses or who Wins The prize2
be, lose or conquer, as you can.
Buff you fail. or IL you rise,
bsesch, pny God, gentleman
A gentleman, or old or youagi
Bear kindly With my humble lsys;)
The sacred chorus first was sung
Upon THE FIRST Of Christmas Days.
The she9herds heard il over head
The joyful angels raised il then;
Glory TO Heaven on high, It said,
Be peace on earth 10 gentle men.
NJ song. save this, Is title worth;
lay the weary pen aside,
And wish you health, and love. and mirth,
As fits the solemn Christmas tide.
As fits the holy Christmas birth
Be this, good friends our carol still
Re peace on earth. be peace on earth,
To men Of gentle viii.