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gives us no intimation; and these pages commence with the birth of infancy, and close with the end of life, when takes place that birth yet to come, of which Sophocles declared his expectation in his last tragedy, an idea that has been re-echoed through all the ages since by hosts of the greatest minds. Between these two momentous birthdays there are several periods whose anniversaries have for all of us, more or less, an affecting interest; whilst in the case of royal personages, that day on which they first entered upon the cares and grandeurs of sovereignty must always be a prominent anniversary of their lives.

And there is one day, figuratively so called, of unspeakable importance to all the denizens of a fallen world" the new birth," so solemnly appointed by our Saviour: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." This is celebrated here in the one joyful birthday of our redemption—that of the nativity and incarnation of Christ.

From this happy starting-point we trace the journey of life by the milestones, pausing here or there, by the principal stations, to consider the country we are travelling through, and that towards which we are hastening.

The very farthest limits of the journey measure for us but a hundred birthdays; and which of us

can hope to reach that?

Threescore years and

ten is the natural terminating point.

And such is human life; so, gliding on,
It glimmers like a meteor, and is gone;
Yet is the tale, brief though it be, as strange,
As full, methinks, of wild and wondrous change,
As any that the wandering tribes require,
Stretch'd in the desert round their evening fire;
As any sung of old, in hall or bower,

To minstrel-harps at midnight's witching hour!

ROGERS.

This strange "tale that is told " is divided here into three parts-youth, middle age, and later life; which mark the natural changes that present themselves to every eye, and are experienced by every one who lives to be old.

A word or two on the poems themselves. It has been said by an ancient writer, speaking of the lighter forms of poetry, "These things commonly go under the title of poetical amusements, but these amusements have sometimes gained as much reputation to their authors as works of a more serious nature. It is surprising how much the mind is entertained and delighted by these little poetical, compositions, as they turn upon subjects of gallantry, satire, tenderness, politeness, and everything in short that concerns life and the affairs of the world."

Our Book of Birthdays is, of course, principally occupied with these "poetical amusements," which

are of various degrees of literary merit, although none have been admitted that are not marked by refinement of feeling or of thought.

Thus the favour of the public is hoped for on a double basis. The poetry of human life here

commends itself to all cultivated minds, whether they do or do not keep or enjoy actual birthdays; and the Book of Birthdays, as a collection of anniversary poetry never before brought together in a volume, must be acknowledged to be at once curious and of some permanent value.

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Birthday Epigram

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Birthday Epigram on late-acquired Wealth

Birthday Gift of a King of France

Birthday Gift, The

Sir W. Jones

Hook 49 46

Cowper 195

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Dryden 132 Tennyson 17 Cartwright

77

Bulwer Lytton 108
Hood 139

Birthday Poem to Maria Brontë by her Husband

Birthday Reflections

Birthday Thought, A

Birthday Verses

Birthday Verses to Miss Logan

Birthnight in Later Life

Bishop, To Mrs., on her Birthday

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Blount, To Martha, on her Birthday

Boundary of Middle Life, The

Burning Babe, The

Samuel Bishop 116

Burns's Sonnet on his Thirty-fourth Birthday

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are of various degrees of literary merit, although none have been admitted that are not marked by refinement of feeling or of thought.

Thus the favour of the public is hoped for on a double basis. The poetry of human life here commends itself to all cultivated minds, whether they do or do not keep or enjoy actual birthdays; and the Book of Birthdays, as a collection of anniversary. poetry never before brought together in a volume, must be acknowledged to be at once curious and of some permanent value.

M. B.

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