The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Mahogany TreeThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: The Mahogany TreeAuthor: William Makepeace ThackerayIllustrator: Edmund DulacRelease date: June 11, 2014 [eBook #45921]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Chris Whitehead, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHOGANY TREE ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: The Mahogany TreeAuthor: William Makepeace ThackerayIllustrator: Edmund DulacRelease date: June 11, 2014 [eBook #45921]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Chris Whitehead, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
Title: The Mahogany Tree
Author: William Makepeace ThackerayIllustrator: Edmund Dulac
Author: William Makepeace Thackeray
Illustrator: Edmund Dulac
Release date: June 11, 2014 [eBook #45921]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Credits: E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Chris Whitehead, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHOGANY TREE ***
The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mahogany Tree, by William Makepeace Thackeray
This book cover image was restored and the printing added by the transcriber, and it is placed in the public domain.
This book cover image was restored and the printing added by the transcriber, and it is placed in the public domain.
This book cover image was restored and the printing added by the transcriber, and it is placed in the public domain.
William Makepeace Thackeray
This characteristic picture of the author of "The Mahogany Tree" is reproduced from a drawing made by the distinguished illustrator, Mr. Edmund Dulac, for the cover of the menu of a dinner of the Titmarsh Club of London. It is reprinted here by Mr. Dulac's very kind permission.
THE MAHOGANY TREEWILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAYNEW YORKPRIVATELY PRINTEDCHRISTMAS 1910
NEW YORK
PRIVATELY PRINTED
CHRISTMAS 1910
"Some years since" said Thackeray in a public speech, "when I was younger, and used to frequent jolly assemblies, I wrote a Bacchanalian song to be chanted after dinner;" and a contemporary record has preserved a note of "the radiant gratification of his face whilst Horace Mayhew sang The Mahogany Tree, perhaps the finest and most soul-stirring of Thackeray's social songs."
In seeking a Souvenir of this Christmas season the ballad of "The Mahogany Tree" lends itself most felicitously to the present purpose which is to
"—wish you health, and love and mirth,As fits the solemn Christmas-tide."
Putting aside for an hour the affairs of a work-a-day world, let us take our places around the convivial board, on the time-stained surface of which we may find in fancy the initials of so many boon companions of other days cut deep.
It is pleasant to sport "round the stem of the jolly old tree" in congenial company, and to renew our youth at the bidding of this gracious Toastmaster, the centennial of whose birth we shall celebrate presently; the anniversary of whose death was yester-e'en.
But while remembering that we shall be none the worse tomorrow for having been happy today, we are not permitted to forget entirely the Blue-devil Sprite that awaits the dawn. The play-spell is over; the lights are out in Vanity Fair; and here in Mr. Dulac's drawing is the leader of our Christmas Chorus as he shuts up the box and the puppets—"for our play is played out."
C. M. F.
Christmas 1910.
Christmas is here:Winds whistle shrill,Icy and chill,Little care we:Little we fearWeather without,Sheltered aboutThe Mahogany Tree
Christmas is here:Winds whistle shrill,Icy and chill,Little care we:Little we fearWeather without,Sheltered aboutThe Mahogany Tree
Once on the boughsBirds of rare plumeSang, in its bloom;Night-birds are we:Here we carouse,Singing like them,Perched round the stemOf the jolly old tree.
Once on the boughsBirds of rare plumeSang, in its bloom;Night-birds are we:Here we carouse,Singing like them,Perched round the stemOf the jolly old tree.
Here let us sport,Boys, as we sit;Laughter and witFlashing so free.Life is but short—When we are gone,Let them sing onRound the old tree.
Here let us sport,Boys, as we sit;Laughter and witFlashing so free.Life is but short—When we are gone,Let them sing onRound the old tree.
Evenings we knew,Happy as this;Faces we miss,Pleasant to see.Kind hearts and true,Gentle and just,Peace to your dust!We sing round the tree.
Evenings we knew,Happy as this;Faces we miss,Pleasant to see.Kind hearts and true,Gentle and just,Peace to your dust!We sing round the tree.
Care, like a dun,Lurks at the gate:Let the dog wait;Happy we'll be!Drink, every one;Pile up the coals,Fill the red bowls,Round the old tree!
Care, like a dun,Lurks at the gate:Let the dog wait;Happy we'll be!Drink, every one;Pile up the coals,Fill the red bowls,Round the old tree!
Drain we the cup—Friend, art afraid?Spirits are laidIn the Red Sea.Mantle it up;Empty it yet;Let us forget,Round the old tree.
Drain we the cup—Friend, art afraid?Spirits are laidIn the Red Sea.Mantle it up;Empty it yet;Let us forget,Round the old tree.
Sorrows, begone!Life and its ills,Duns and their bills,Bid we to flee.Come with the dawn,Blue-devil sprite.Leave us to-night,Round the old tree.
Sorrows, begone!Life and its ills,Duns and their bills,Bid we to flee.Come with the dawn,Blue-devil sprite.Leave us to-night,Round the old tree.
OF THIS BOOK 200 COPIES WERE
PRINTED FOR THOMAS NAST
FAIRBANKS BY HAL MARCHBANKS
IN DECEMBER 1910
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:There were no changes made by the transcriber.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
There were no changes made by the transcriber.