Some appoint a certain evening
in every week during the season, a general invitation to which is
given to the favoured; others are monthly; and others, again, at no
regular intervals. At these gatherings, the amusements are
conversation and music only, and the entertainment is unostentatious
and inexpensive, consisting of tea and coffee, wine or negus handed
about in the course of the evening, and sandwiches, cake, and wine at
eleven o'clock. Suppers are prohibited by common consent, for
costliness would speedily put an end to society too agreeable to be
sacrificed to fashion. The company meets usually between eight and
nine, and always parts at midnight.--_The Critic_.
THE SKY-LARK'S SONG.
It comes down from the clouds to me,
On this sweet day of spring;
Methinks it is a melody
That angel-lips might sing.
Thou soaring minstrel! winged bard!
Whose path is the free air,
Whose song makes sunshine seem more bright,
And this fair world more fair!
I ask not what the strain may be,
Thus chanted at 'Heaven's gate'--
A hymn of praise, a lay of joy,
Or love-song to thy mate.
Vain were such idle questioning!
And 'tis enough for me
To feel thou singest still the notes
Which God gave unto thee.
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