BENEDICTION ON CHILDREN.

IMPROMPTU.

_By Thomas Campbell, Esq_.


Imps, that hold your daily revels
Round the windows of my bower
Would that Hell's ten thousand devils
Had you in their clutch this hour!

Screaming, yelling, little nasties,
Would that Ogres down their maw
Had you cramm'd in Christmas pasties,
That would make ye hold your jaw.

Saucy imps, stew'd down to jelly,
Ye would make a sauce most rare;
Or with pudding in each belly,
Rival roasted pig or hare.

Sweeter than the fish of these is,
Would be yours, young human _bores_;
All with apples at your noses,
Would I saw you dish'd by scores!

Herod slaughter'd harmless sucklings,