59
My Firstborn 63
The Widow's Mite 66
St George's, Hanover Square 68
A Sketch in Seven Dials 70
Miss Edith 72
A Glimpse of Gretna Green, in the Distance 75
The Four Seasons 78
Enigma 80
Enigma 81
To the Printer's Devil 83
NOTES 85

INTRODUCTION

The father of Frederick Locker Lampson (or Frederick Locker, according to
the name by which he is generally known) was Edward Hawke Locker, at one
time Commissioner of Greenwich Hospital. He is described in the
"Dictionary of National Biography" as "a man of varied talents and
accomplishments, Fellow of the Royal Society, an excellent artist in
water-colour, a charming conversationalist, an esteemed friend of Southey
and Scott." Frederick, the author of "London Lyrics," "was born," Mr
Augustine Birrell, his son-in-law, writes in _Scribner's Magazine_
(January 1896), "in Greenwich Hospital in 1821. After divers adventures
in various not over well selected schools, and a brief experience of the
City and of Somerset House, he became a clerk in the Admiralty, serving
under Lord Haddington, Sir James Graham, and Sir Charles Wood. He was
twice married--first, to Lady Charlotte Bruce, a daughter of Lord Elgin
(of the Marbles); and secondly, to the only daughter of Sir Curtis
Lampson, Bart., of Rowfant in Sussex."

The present volume is Locker's earliest literary venture; produced,
however, at the comparatively mature age of thirty-six. "In 1857," he
says in "My Confidences," "I published a thin volume--certain
sparrow-flights of song, called 'London Lyrics.'" Subsequently, about
1860, Thackeray, who was then editor of the _Cornhill Magazine_, invited
Locker to contribute; and poems published there and elsewhere were
collected and reprinted from time to time, the original title being
always retained. Ten editions, besides some selections privately
printed, appeared before the poet's death. In almost all something new
was added, in all something old was taken away; so that only eight of the
twenty-five pieces composing the early "thin volume" survive in t