Page 436 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

If the men mere so wicked,— I'll ask my papa
How he dared to propose to my darling mamma ?
Was he like the rest of them ? goodness ! who knows ?
And what shall I say, if a wretch should propose?
I am thinking if aunt knew so little of sin,
What a wonder Aunt Tabitha's aunt must have been !
And her grand-ctuni■— it scares me,— how shockingly sad
That we girls of to-day are So frightfully bad 1

A manyr will save us, and nothing else can ;
Let us perish to rescue some wretched young man !
Though, when to the altar a victim I go,
Aunt Tabitha'll tell me— she never did so.
______ O. W, H0U1ES.

GOSSIP.
T H ER K once lived a creature— if I've not been deceived—
In whom the old ancients devoutly believed,
And of all things incredible, wondrous and strange,
Is the fact that at w ill ll!S coarse face he could change,
So that if you met him a thousand times o’er,
You could not he sure you k a i met him before.
Bitt that he was a monster von ne’er had a doubt.
For once you had met him you soon found him out.
He assured you at first that quite harmless was he,
But once in his clutches you ne’er could get free !
If the arrows of ill which at others he hurled
Were all made iri a ring, they would eif'dc ihe wOrldT
Now, tile name of this monster I really forget.
But, if you’ll believe me, he’s prowling round y e t!
His nam e, if I knew it, I ’d certainly l.cll,
Blit the name of “ Oid Gossip” will do quite as well.
So friends, with best wishes, whatever you do,
Don’t let the oid Beast get acquainted with you.
M ay C oopf-r .