But now my strength doth ebb apace-- But the gates of heaven are opened wide, A REMONSTRANCE. ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND WHO COMPLAINED OF BEING ALONE IN THE WORLD. BY ALARIC A. WATTS. I. Oн say not thou art all alone, Upon this wide, cold-hearted earth; The vacant chair,-the silent hearth: II. Though many a fervent hope of youth Nor time, nor grief, can e'er efface The brighter hopes that now are thine,The fadeless love,-all-pitying grace, That makes thy darkest hours divine! III. Not all alone; -for thou canst hold From many a pure, untravelled page :— IV. Not all alone; -the lark's rich note, The cricket's chirp, cicala's glee;— Not all alone; V. -the whispering trees, The rippling brook, the starry sky,— Have each peculiar harmonies, To soothe, subdue, and sanctify: That notes the wandering sparrow's fall A saving hand is ever nigh, A gracious Power attends thy call: When sadness holds thy heart in thrall, mercy shown; Is oft his tenderest Seek then the balm vouchsafed to all, And thou canst never be ALONE! ; THE CONFESSION. BY JOHN GALT, ESQ. My furlough had nearly expired; and, as I was to leave the village the next morning to join my regiment, then on the point of being shipped off at Portsmouth, for India, several of my old companions spent the evening with me, in the Marquis of Granby. They were joyous, hearty lads; but mirth bred thirst, and drinking begot contention. I was myself the soberest of the squad, and did what I could to appease their quarrels. The liquor, however, had more power than my persuasion, and at last it so exasperated some foolish difference about a song, between Dick Winlaw and Jem Bradley, that they fell to fighting, and so the party broke up. Bradley was a handsome, bold, fine fellow, and I had more than once urged him to enlist in our corps. Soon after quitting the house, he joined me in my way home, and I spoke to him again about enlisting, but his blood was still hot-he would abide no reason-he could only swear of the revenge he would inflict upon Winlaw. This led to some remonstrance on my part, for Bradley |