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Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifle "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifle "FIN". taira Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included ih one exposure are f!!med beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre i'iSmAs it des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est fllmi A partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diaprammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. by errata mad to nent une pelure, fapon A 1 2 3 1 5 32X f '^-^'Nr5^ -fe^' LOVE, A LA MODE:" A SLUUJT 8J.AP AT • THE NEAT LITTLE ELOPEMENT, AT TORONTO. A VEEY MORAL DISSERTilTION. "My verdict for the White Rose side." — JSha^kspeaue. ^^^ LONDON, CANADA WEST: \ J 1'^ ■[ I i "LOVE, A LA MODE:" A SLIGHT SLAP AT THE NEAT LITTLE ELOPEMENT, AT TORONTO. A VERY MORAL DISSERTATION. " My verdict for the White Rose side." — Shakspbari. LONDON, CANADA WEST: 1868. PART I. -A.N EPISTLE FROM THE FAIR MARY ANNE, TO HER AUNT IN THE COUNTRY. / n (' LOVE. A LA MODE. Upper Tendom is thrilled by a \Tondrous commotion, I'he flutter of gossip and scandal is heard ; " SAveet sixteen" is seized with a tremb- ling emotion, A wail greets the downfall of Fashion's gay bird ! Dear Aunty, the Captain who often I spoke of In letters to you as being such a sweet creature — A model of neatness, good manners and rank, (Though I changed my opinion so soon as he broke off LOVE, A LA iMODE. Tlie little flirtation which he and I had, For 1 hate to make love junt to suit a man's prank ; In fact I'd have died had it been a civil- lian — His position the highest — his fortune — a million ! ) Well — to cut matters short — the Captain has cleared With a simpering female, just on eighteen — An heiress — no beauty — a passable lass, Just fit for — allow the expression — an ass! * The Captain — I formerly told you — was feared By his comrades in arms and his rivals in love. The Ensigns were " no where " — Lieuten- ants were naught — Love, a la modk. '!*> f I had, suit a civil- une — Liptain it on With eloquent niisniles the Conqueror fought, Using no fists as a weapon of war, (In this plehean manner no gentleman fights;) And the Captain one evening thua candidly swore, He believed in retreating on very dark nights. As muscular feats ^vere a terrible bore ! lass, 1— AN — was i his 3uten- The first night on which Sassey whilst * here met Miss Lavish, I was sitting quite near them at Tal- low hide's ball ; The Captain was full of soft whispers and graces ; (I could fathom this matter by watching their faces) — 6 LOVE, A LA MODE. i* His conduct was exquisite, tender, and knavish, And 1 heard with my own ears, the saucy girl call Him the handsomest man she had seen at the ball I blushed for my dignity — this to his face ! Sufficient to herald eternal disgrace ! He grew bolder, caressing her hand in his own, And whispered^ " I'll give you my heart as a loan, To see how you'll keep it;" v^hile she in return Said — '^ril keep it forever;" I felt my cheeks burn ! At that moment the gallant young Captain AUears Tripped up to implore me to dance the next sett, LOVE, A LA MODE. t der, and ears, the had seen s to his ^race ! er hand ^ou my lile she felt my young dance i 'f Or he'd " dwown all the guests in the room with his te-ahs" — I consented, and left the poor Captain in net ! I know, dearest Aunty, that temptation oft Lingers where melody, soothing suad soft, Floats on the ear with a trembling bliss. And sound of rich gaiety, pleasure and joy, Combine to make earth appear free from alloy. I know that the pale stars of Heaven have power, A strange magic strength to allure us to love; LOVE, A LA MODE. I !• , To make us believe life a fair blooming flower As sacred and pure as the glories above ! And thus in surveying those forms in that room All my rapture of soul passed away into gloom. So very mysterious — so very — well, you see, If I go on to describe— -it will answer to j ealousy ! Well, resuming my seat with an air of fatigue, I could not but notice the Captain and she Who sat by his side ; for they both seemed to be Equally smitten and equally sure That the ripening passion would always endure. M < LOVE, A LA MODE # )oming glories 'ms in away 11, you wer to air of u and eemed Iways A number of eyes were inspecting them now, And I noticed old ladies — yes, those who had daughters. Gaze on the two with such very strange looks. That I inwardly blushed ; though the Cap- tain's calm brow Retained its composure — his whiskers and . hair Presenting the self-same immaculate air — As he leant with soft confidence over her chair, Conversing on flowers, foreign countries, and books. Just then Mrs. Peachblossom said to a neighbor, " The Captain don't seem to grow tired of labor — He'll retain that girl's heart in his faithless possession 10 LOVE, A LA MODE. Until it's convenient to seek for a fresh one. '? Her friends on the left appeared very much pleased, And Mrs. P.'s satire each minute increased ; Indeed I considered it almost a miracle That the dropsical lady did not grow hys- terical. This continued without intermission, until I Concluded that Mrs. P.'s language was silly ; So when Captain Allears laid claim to my hand I gladly forsook this gossiping band. Shall I tell you of all the gay drives and soft meetings Which followed the night of the glorious ball ? LOVE, A LA MODE. 11 fresh very jased ; ile 7 hys- ssion. 10 mv s and Shall I tell of the tender significant greet- ings — The coy invitations — the hour to call ? Shall 1 tell of the missives — exchanging of pictures — How hearts in return appeared permanent fixtures ? Shall I tell how the dandies and bellee of the city Gazed on tjie flirtation with weli-assumed pity; How Miss Gay boots expressed herself wholly disgusted, And vowed that till then she had never mistrusted The rich Captain's honor, or question' d his right To mingle in circles as high as polite ! nous m -M- 12 LOVE, A LA MODE. \l\ I I i! i Every one wonder' d — a good many sneer' d, The ladies indignantly turned up their noses — Or pouted their lips to the size of spring roses ; The " subjects," however, would drive and would talk Though the whole of creation had been at their heels ; They went to the Theatre, flirted and danced From the giddiest waltz to the gayest of reels — Nature herself was amazed — and entranced With the festive young couple who never appeared To notice sly whispers or pay much atten- tion To itories of scandal unworthy of mention. dj SI li w T ^ i I LOVE, A LA MODE. 13 sneer'd, up their )f spring rive and lad been bed and ayest of tranced never 1 atten- ention. i Dear Aunty^ its really a matter for wonder That those who lay claim to be leaders of fashion Should glory in pulling good manners asunder, Encouraging those who spread gossip and scandal Instead of contemning and laying the lap.h on ! I truly believe that more evil finds vent From the mouths of the " upper-ten"- — those who can cook The vilest sensations by means of a look ; Whose minds, by their living, are easily bent To favor the cause which seems safest to handle. Those gold-blinded hypocrites — puif d with pretence — Their very high standard, importance, and pow'r, i !4 LOVE, A LA MODK. ■ (, I I !| Who scorn the true principle moulded by sense^, Aud nip honorV; bud ere it blooms to a flower. There's Flora MaclUrlane, society's belle- Caressed by the fashion and " ton" of the city, Whose dresses and rino:s, and frivoltv tell So much in her favor ; she's clever and witty And judges esteem her decidedly pretty ; Still no one is really in love with Miss Flora, She numbers admirers ; no special adorer Is found at her shrine, for that cold selfish heart « Knows not the true rapture which love may impart. No story of gossip is lost on her ear; « LOVE, A LA MODE. 15 Ided by oms to a belle — ton" of 3lty tell ver and pretty ; :h Miss dorer selfish ;h love ir ear; No rumor which she in her rounds will not hear, For she livc,^ to spread scandal's most pertinent cur«e, By the strength of her tongue and the strings of her purse. Who could tell by the clasp of that hand the deceit, The falsehood of life, and the sin and the pride ? Who could pierce through that smile to the heart's deep retreat; And fathom the follies that therein abide? Who could tell by the frank and dis- passionate air — The delicate carriage — the beautiful face — That the flame of true virtue had vanished from there, And the .soul was not perfect in Heavenly grace? 16 LOVE. V. LA MODE. ' !l Ah ! few know that only the classical form In redolent calmness remains to be seen ; • The angelic mind could not brave the world's storm, And emerge from temptation in beauty serene : — And the tottering beggar who stoops to receive The alms which Miss Flora is pleased to bestow, Looks up, and in rapture, can scarcely believe, That a being so beautiful lingers below. Thus from highest to lowest, the world can deceive By an exquisite form and a dazzling show. LOVK, A LA iMODE. 17 classical 3 to be ave the a beauty itoops to pleased scarcely 3 below. e world lazzling I know you will smile at my earnest address, Whicli startles myself — this 1 freely confess — Though it is not the cant of a crusty old maid. Whom society's mandate has cast in the shade ; Nor is it the grumbling epistle which burns, With sentences moulded in passion or spleen ; ftringingly servile and bitter by turns, For whatever I pen, dearest Aunty, I mean. Society's manners are easiest reformed By those whom its roseate pleasures have warned, Who, possessing an infinite knowledge and skill, Can prune these shortcomings and follies at will! & f 1 18 LOVE, A LA MODK. Well, Icavinji the iaiHii Whose form does not bask in " Society's sun ; And first to lend cunning and crafty sup- port To the slanderous tale and the libellous sneer, If breathed by the " drcles" whose pleas- ures they court, With an eloquent smile and a cowardly fear. By these the friir banners of union and trust Are dragged to the earth till they trail in the dust, And the virulent poison of worldly deceit Proves Honor a shadow and Fashion a cheat. LOVE, A LA MODE. 37 S But my pen is not trimmed for much wri- ting to night, Though the heavens are brilliant with beauty and light; And Nature still breathes of a calmer abode When the soul passes safely o'er life's thorny road: And the langour, and sorrow, and trouble of earth Glide calmly through death to a purified birth, Where the flutter of fashion, and scandal and sin Are unknown to the spirits who enter therein. And the burning temptation and passion- ate wiles Of earth pass away in» contentment and smiles ; Not a vision of terror glides over the heart, Not a dream which could mar the per- fection of love, 38 LOVE, A LA MODE.' Not a feature is glossed by the radiance of Art — All is Nature, as viewed in the regions above ! There the tinsel, and humbug, and power of gold, And the cant of the hypocrite fail in their aim ; No position by trickster's is bartered or sold, But the rich and the poor are considered the same : And the weight of the heart and the truth of the soul Are passports to Heaven's most purified goal ; And the cant of the world and the scanda- lous lie In throes of deep anguish and misery die. Whilst those who have turned from the virtuous course i^ LOVE. A LA MODE 39 t Of life, are lefi wailing in bit{er remorse, And a mandate from Heaven can only release The Destroyer of Innocent Graces and Peace ! And thus whilst we feel all humanity's woes, In the. dim dreary midnight one kindly beam glows; And the downfall of Fashion, and follies of youth Convince us of Heaven's most glorious Truth— That Happiness, Safety, and Pleasure are found By those whom the laurels of Virtue sur- round : God grant then that mortals may seek the true road. And shun the vile meshes of Love, a la Mode !