men know so well to compound. Of course, I
_ought_ to know Zounds and Sounds, and of course, I should not hurry to
disclaim that knowledge. HARRY might have known, and then again he might
_not_; but he remembered, as I have since ascertained, of having eaten
something of the kind some thirty years since; something he had perhaps
cloyed of, and so forgotten, but something very delectable; something that
would perhaps touch his palate again like the maple-sugar and other
dainties of his boyhood. Having found the article that day, he had secured
a large quantity without asking what they were, and had them taken
privately to his house, with a view of making up the dish himself. I came
home, rolling the magic words 'as a sweet morsel under my tongue,' and
immediately sought out a curious dictionary, in which various strange
things are expounded; and failing in that, looked into CRABBE'S Synonymes,
(by the rule of contraries, I suppose, for there certainly could be
nothing _like_ Zounds and Sounds,) but as LONGFELLOW says, 'All in vain!'
FANNY having retired, I got into my slippers and sat down by the fire to
ruminate a little. 'Zounds and Sounds!' said I. 'What an incomparable
phrase! What a sweet suffusion of the z! What vibratory tingling upon the
tympanum! How pleasantly percussive to the brain; and how even the teeth
partake of the sensation! I declare! I must write a song upon Zounds and
Sounds! I will. I will write an invitatory song to the EDITOR. Let me see.
Zounds, rounds, bounds and hounds. Exactly! Now then:

ARE you weary Sir, of the ups and downs
The fame, the fun, the blues the browns,
The heat, the haste, the sights the sounds
Of your never-ending monthly rounds?
Oh! come and dine on Zounds and Sounds!
Zounds and Sounds!
Glorious sounds!
The music, alone,
With only a bone,
Is a dinner, Sir, with Zounds and Sounds.

Don't ask me, Sir, upon what grounds
I promise that these rare compounds
Exactly as the song propounds,
(The music alone,
With only a bone,)
Shall drive your troubles past all bounds,
Or mad thoughts chasing you like hounds;
Don't ask me _how_ it drives and drowns,
But come and dine on Zounds and Sounds.

Finishing the song, I looked about for my flute to find a tune for it, but
reflecting that I should wake the house, put it by again for another time.
'After all,' said I, 'a flute couldn't touch that _z_ sound. Indee