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"I have left behind me a gentle child,

I have angered an aged mother,— And I from my home, in passion wild

Have lured an only brother!"

"Their curse be on him-yon dreamer dark”Thus thought the crew of the wandering bark.

The sun went down on hearts more sad
Than twice in one life may be,
And when he arose he found them glad,

Though still they were still on the sea;
O human spirit ! — glad look and word
Were all for the sake of a singing bird!

Such a bird as in spring-time may,
Mid leaves and blossoms flitting,
Please awhile with its dancing play
One in an orchard sitting,-
Pouring its soul in gushes strong,
As if it would teach the air its song.

It sat all day on the mast and sails,
An omen right good to view,

For it told of land, and of dark green vales,
And it told the mariners true.

A prophet's promise

an angel's word

They were all in the note of that singing bird

THE BULLY.

BY THE REV. G. CRABBE.

SIR HECTOR BLANE, the champion of the school,
Was very blockhead, but was formed for rule:
Learn he could not; he said he could not learn,
But he professed it gave him no concern.
Books were his horror, dinner his delight,
And his amusement to shake hands and fight.
Argue he could not, but in case of doubt
Or disputation, fairly boxed it out:

This was his logic, and his arm so strong,
His cause prevailed, and he was never wrong;
But so obtuse - you must have seen his look,
Desponding, angry, puzzled o'er his book.

Can you not see him on the morn that proved
His skill in figures? Pluto's self was moved :
"Come, six times five?" th' impatient teacher cried;
In vain, the pupil shut his eyes, and sighed.

"Try, six times count your fingers; how he stands !

Your fingers, idiot!" "What, of both my hands?"

With parts like these his father felt assured,
In busy times, a ship might be procured;

He too was pleased to be so early freed,

He now could fight, and he in time might read.
So he has fought, and in his country's cause

Has gained him glory, and our heart's applause.

No more the blustering boy a school defies,
We see the hero from the tyrant rise,

And in the captain's worth, the student's dulness dies.

"Be all allowed," replied the squire; "I give
Praise to his actions; may their glory live!
Nay, I will hear him in his riper age

Fight his good ship, and with the foe engage;
Nor will I quit him when the cowards fly,
Although, like them, I dread his energy.

"But still, my friend, that ancient spirit reigns: His powers support the credit of his brains, Insisting ever that he must be right, And for his reasons still prepared to fight. Let him a judge of England's prowess be, And all her floating terrors on the sea; But this contents not, this is not denied, He claims a right on all things to decide, A kind of patent-wisdom; and he cries, 'Tis so!' and bold the hero that denies. Thus the boy-spirit still the bosom rules,

And the world's maxims were at first the schools'!"

K

THE SPARROW'S NEST.

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

BEHOLD, within the leafy shade,
Those bright blue eggs together laid!
On me the chance-discovered sight
Gleamed like a vision of delight.
I started-seeming to espy
The home and sheltered bed,-

The Sparrow's dwelling, which, hard by,
My Father's House, in wet or dry,
My Sister Emmeline and I
Together visited.

She looked at it as if she feared it ;
Still wishing, dreading to be near it :
Such heart was in her, being then
A little Prattler among men.
The blessing of my later years
Was with me when a Boy :

She gave me eyes, she gave me ears ;
And humble cares, and delicate fears;
A heart the fountain of sweet tears;

And love, and thought, and joy.

THE LADYBIRD.

BY CORNELIUS WEBBE.

LADYBIRD, fair Ladybird,
Thou may'st sing a song unheard
By our gross, material ears,
Which to highest Heaven may swell,
Sweet, and clear, and voluble,

As the warbling of the spheres!

Exquisitely formed, though small,
Organs strong and musical,

May by nature's grace be thine; Which, when we, as erring men, Think thee dumb and sleeping, then May send up a song divine.

Birds no bigger than a span,

Can outsing the giant man,

And make hill and valley ring; Why, small creature, may not thou Loudly, eloquently now

To the ears of angels sing?

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