The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-12-09

at present in favor of tea, which, on
that account, has the advantage Of
suggesting no confinement to particu-
lar ranks or modes of life. Let there
be but a freside, and anybody, of any
denomination, may be fancied enjoy
ing the luxury of cup of tea, from
the duchess in the evening drawing
room, who makes it the instrument of
displaying her white hand, to the
poor washerwOman at her early tub,
who, having had nothing to signify
since five, sits down to it with her
shining arms and corrugated fingers at
six. If there is any other station Oflife
in which it is enjoyed to most advunt-
age, it is that of mediOcrity; that in
which all comfort is reckOned to be
best appreciated, because while there
is taste to enjoy, there is necessity to
earn the enjOymentj and l cannot
conclude the hour before US with bet
ter climax Of snugness than is present.
ed in the following pleasing little
verses. The author, 1 believe, is un-
known, and may not have been much
of a poet in matters of fiction; but
who will deny his taste for matters of
reality, or say he has not handled his
subject to perfection?
"The hearth was clean, the Rre was clear,
The kettle on for tea,
PaemOn in his eIbOw-chair
As blest could be.
CIarinda, who his bsaIt poasesS'd,
Aud his mude bride,
With head recin'd upon his breast,
Sat toying BY his side.
stretch'd at his feet, In happy state,
iav'rite dog was laid,
BY whom little sportiys CO.
In wantOn humOr playd.
Clarinda's hand he gently presti
She stole amorous kiss
And, blushIng, moiestIy confsHs'd
The fullness other bliss.
Palemon, " th heart eluts,
Prry'd to Almighty Joys
That it might eyeT he his fate,
just 50 to live and love.
BE this eternity, he cried,
And let be given;
Continue thus my loved hresids,
1 ask other heaven"
There are so many modes of spend
ing the remainder of the evening be-
tween teatime and bedtime (fOr l pro-
test against all suppers that are not
light enough to be taken on the knee)
that general description would avail
me nothing, and / cannot be expected
to enter into such a variety of particu,
lars. Suffice it to say that, where the
fire is duly appreciated, aud the circle
| gOOd-humored, none of them can be
unpleasant, whether the party be large
or small, young or old, talkative or
cOntemplative. II there is music, a
good fire will be particularly grateful
to the performers, who are often seat
I'd at the farther end of the room; for
it is really shameful that a lady who
is charming US all with her voice, or
firing us, at the harp or piano, with
the lightning of her fingers, should at
that very moment be trembling with
cold. AS to cards, which were invent
ed for the sOlace of a mad prince, and
which are only tUlerable, in my Opin-
ion, when we can be as mad as he
was, that is to say at round game, l
cannot by any means patrOniZe them
as a conscientious firesider; for, not 10
mention all the other objections, the
card table is as awkward, in a fireside
point of view, as the dinner table, and
is not to be compared with it i'm social
ity. If it be necessary to pay so i'll a
compliment to the company as to have
recourse to some amusement of the
kind, there is chess or draughts, which
may be played on table by the fire
but nothing is like discourse, freely ut
tering the fancy as it comes, and va
ried, perhaps, with little music, OF
with the peruSal of some fayOrite pass
ages, which excite the comments of the
circle. 1t is then, if tastes happen tC
be acCOrdant, and the social voice is
frank as well as refined, that the
"sweet music of speech" is heard in
its best harmony, differing only fOl
apter sweetness. and mingling but fol
happier participation, while the mu,
tuaI sense smilingly blends in with
every rising measure
"And female stop soothcns the charm Ger all"
This is the finished evening; this
the quickener at once and the calmel
of tired thought; this the spot where
our better spirits wait to exalt and en-
liven us, when the daily and vulgaI
ones have discharged their duty!
HQuestO c IL Paradise,
PIi dolce, che ira i'a' que, fra larena
q. In Ciel sea Il SreHs."
lTassO-Rim0 AMBROSE.
''Hpre, here is found
n A -wrpter Paradise Of sound
Than where the Sirens take their summer stands
AmOug he thing waters and giiO sands"