Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn :: :: University of Virginia Library

Hark! hark! the sharp voice of Old Christopher North
Rings out from Edina, the gem of the Forth:
The year twenty-three like a vapour has past,
And he's nearer by one twelvemonth more to his last.
He dreads not that day—for he trusts he has stood,
Though too freakish at times, yet in all by the good;
So he watches the march of Old Time without fear,
And wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

2

He greets you, because the dear bond of our love
Is flourishing proudly all others above;
Her sons still as manly, her daughters as true—
[He speaks of the many, and mourns for the few—]
That she still is the realm of the wise and the free,
Of the Victors of Europe, the Lords of the Sea—
And gratitude dims his old eyes with a tear,
While he wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

3

His heart sings with joy, while all round him he sees
Her citizens prosper, her cities increase,—
Her taxes diminish,—her revenues rise,—
Her credit spring up, as her oaks to the skies,—
Her coasts full of commerce,—her purses of gold,—
Her granary with corn, and with cattle her fold.
He prays that for aye such may be her career,
And wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

4

He is proud to see Monarchs bend low, cap in hand,
To ask aid from her merchants, plain men of our land,
To see them their millions so readily fling,
And book down as debtor an Emperor or King:
That a nod from her head, or a word from her mouth,
Shakes the World, Old and New, from the North to the South;
That her purse rules in peace, as in war did her spear,
And he wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

249

5

Laugh, fiddle, and song, ring out gay in the town,
And the glad tally-ho cheers the dale and the down;
The rich man his claret can jollily quaff,
And the happier poor man o'er brown stout may laugh;
And the demagogue ruffian no longer can gull
With Jacobin slang, for John's belly is full;
And 'tis only when hungry that slang he will hear—
So, Kit wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

6

He rejoices to see every engine at work,
From the steamer immense, to the sweet knife and fork;
The weaver at loom, and the smith at his forge;
And all loyal and steady, and true to King George.
Whigs, therefore, avaunt! there's no chance now for ye—
We forget they exist in the general glee;
He begs you won't let them diminish your cheer,
So he wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

7

There's the King, bless his heart, long is likely to live,
And the Duke at the head of the army to thrive;
There's Wellington extant, who badger'd the Gaul,
And Eldon still sitting in Westminster-Hall.
There's Scott writing prose—and there's—who writing verse?
Why, no one; but, hang it, think never the worse.
Sure, there's Christopher North writes your Magazine here,
And wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.

8

In the midst of this wealth, of this national pride—
Of our honour, our glories, spread far, far, and wide,
While proudly we traverse the sea and the sod,
Let us never forget for a moment our God!
It was he raised us up, and, remember, his frown,
If we swerve from his cause, would as soon cast us down;
But that so we shall swerve shall Old Kit never fear,
And he wishes you, darlings, a Happy New-Year.