MORE FANCIES BY THE FIRELIGHT.
As the fire in the fireplace won’t burn without a draught, so the fire of inspiration, to prevent its dying out, needs every now and then a draft upon a banker.
Some persons pretend they can see portraits in the fire. But what they fancy to be photographs are generally all smoke.
Pokers are like critics. Useful as incentives. They are of use too as correctives; but their uses, to do good, must be tempered by good judgment. There is the fear always of their being used too much. As an overdose of poker often puts a fire out, so an overdose of criticism may extinguish the poetic fire in its first spark, and prevent its ever bursting into flame.
The grate looks bright and cheerful in the evening, when the fire is in it; but see it the next morning, how dead and dull it is! So is it with the Great. They shine brilliantly at night when the champagne fire is in them; but when their soda’s brought next morning the shine is quite gone out of them.
When it is discovered where dead donkeys go to, perhaps a poker may be found in the fender at a Railway station.
Finally, my son, however much thy wit may sparkle, be not over-dazzled by it. Take warning by the writer. Fancies written in the firelight turn out not unfrequently iunfit to see the daylight.
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