PREFACE.The verses which make up this volume have been written at intervals,and under the most varied and chequered circumstances, extending over aperiod of five-and-twenty years. If, therefore, they bear upon theirsurface variety of sentiment and incongruity of feeling, that fact willexplain it. I am fully aware that some of the pieces are unequal inmerit from a purely artistic point of view, but I have felt that myaudience will be varied in its composition, and hence the introductionof variety. The tone, however, of the whole work, I believe to behealthy; and where honest maxims, combined with homely metaphor, arefound to take the place of high constructive art, they will, I know, beexcused by votaries of the latter, for the sake of those whose heartsand instincts are much more sensitive to homely appeals than to thecharms of mere artistic effect. The pieces have all been written,together with many other effusions, at such leisure moments as havebeen accorded to one who, during the whole time of their composition,has had to apply himself, almost without cessation, to the performanceof newspaper press duties; and those who know anything about suchthings need not be told that a taste for versification is, to apress-man, as a rule, what poverty is to most people--a veryinconvenient and by no means a profitable companion. In my own case,however, the inconvenience has been a pleasure, and I have no reason tofind fault as to profit. From the fitful excitement of journalisticduties I have turned to "making poetry," as Spenser defines the art, asa jaded spirit looks for rest, and have always felt refreshed after it.My only hope in connection with the poetry I have thus made is, thatthose who may incline to read what I have written will take as muchpleasure in reading as I have taken in writing it, and that the resultto myself will be a justification for having published the work, to befound only in that public appreciation which I hope to obtain --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.