Wit and Humor of America, The Vol 08

<h2><SPAN name="THE_DAY_IS_DONE" id="THE_DAY_IS_DONE"></SPAN>"THE DAY IS DONE"</h2> <h3>BY PH&OElig;BE CARY</h3> <p><span style="margin-left: 1em;">The day is done, and darkness</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">From the wing of night is loosed,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">As a feather is wafted downward,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">From a chicken going to roost.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">I see the lights of the baker,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Gleam through the rain and mist,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">That I can not well resist.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">A feeling of sadness and longing</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">That is not like being sick,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And resembles sorrow only</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">As a brickbat resembles a brick.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Come, get for me some supper,&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">A good and regular meal&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">That shall soothe this restless feeling,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And banish the pain I feel.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not from the pastry bakers,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Not from the shops for cake;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">I wouldn't give a farthing</span><br/> <span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_1629" id="Page_1629"></SPAN></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">For all that they can make.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">For, like the soup at dinner,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Such things would but suggest</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Some dishes more substantial,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And to-night I want the best.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Go to some honest butcher,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Whose beef is fresh and nice,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">As any they have in the city,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And get a liberal slice.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Such things through days of labor,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And nights devoid of ease,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">For sad and desperate feelings,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Are wonderful remedies.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">They have an astonishing power</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">To aid and reinforce,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And come like the "finally, brethren,"</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">That follows a long discourse.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then get me a tender sirloin</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">From off the bench or hook.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And lend to its sterling goodness</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The science of the cook.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the night shall be filled with comfort,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And the cares with which it begun</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall fold up their blankets like Indians,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And silently cut and run.</span><br/> <span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_1630" id="Page_1630"></SPAN></span></p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />