It'll shorten your days and your heart will impair—

That nicotine poison will flow through your veins

And nervous distraction will rack with its pains;

But what cares a feller in slippers and gown,

When wintry winds whistle and snow's pouring down,

With papers and books, and his feet near the fire,

Encircled with ringlets that curl high and higher?

O rare are the fancies, contentment and bliss,

That drive away care in an hour such as this!

When the ills of this life and the things that provoke

Are lost for the while in the blue curling smoke

Of a pipe and tobacco that's yellow as gold,

And raptures supernal the senses unfold.

O give me a chair by a bright blazing fire,

And sweet-smelling ringlets that curl high and higher!

[Pg 37]

[Pg 37]

PERRYVILLE.

FOUGHT OCTOBER 8th, 1862.

Here on this spot, where Nature now, with chilling, icy breath,

 Prev. P 34/105 next