"A PAIR OF OLD-FASHIONED SNUFFERS. VERY RARE."]

* * * * *

THE COMING OF NINETY-TWO.

(_WITH HUMBLE APOLOGIES, AND HEARTY NEW-YEAR GREETINGS, TO THE
ILLUSTRIOUS AUTHOR OF "THE COMING OF ARTHUR."_)

And PUNCHIUS ever served the good Old Year
Before his death-hour struck; and on the night
When he, on twelve's last stroke must pass away,
Room making for his heir, great PUNCHIUS-MERLIN
Left the Old King, and passing forth to breathe,
Then from the mystic gateway by the chasm
Descending through the wintry night--a night
In which the bounds of year and year were blent--
Beheld, so high upon the wave-tost deep
It seemed in heaven, a light, the shape thereof
An angel winged, and all from head to feet
Bright with a shining radiance golden-rayed,
And gone as soon as seen; and PUNCHIUS knew
The oft-glimpsed face of Hope, the blue-eyed guest,
Avant-courier of Peace and of Good Will,
And herald of Good Tidings. Then the Sage
Dropt to the cave, and watched the great sea fall
Wave after wave, each mightier than the last.
Till last, a great one, gathering half the deep
And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged,
Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame.