Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink ; Nice, good wife, that never goes out- 6. Soon as the little ones chip the shell Spink, spank, spink; This new life is likely to be Hard for a gay young fellow like me. 7. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Spink, spank, spink; Nobody knows but my mate and I 8. Summer wanes ;1 the children are grown; Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; When you can pipe that měrry old strain, Chee, chee, chee. Wāne, decrease; waste away. › Crōne, an old woman or man. 3 William Cullen Bryant, among the first, if not the first, of American poets, was born in Cummington, Mass., Nov. 3, 1794. He is the poet of nature, especially as found in BRYANT.3 America. His style, both in prose and verse, is pure, manly, elegant, and vigorous. He has traveled extensively in this country and Europe. His residence is near the village of Roslyn, on Long Island. He is still connected with the "Evening Post." IV. 22. THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. HY dost thou come at set of sun, WThose pensive 2 words to say? Why whip poor Will?-What has he done?- 2. Why come from yon leaf-shaded hill, 3 Why ȧsk of me to whip poor Will ?— 3. If poverty's his crime, let mirth 4. Art Will himself?-It must be so: For none can feel another's woe 5. Yět whêrefōre strain thy tiny throat, What means thy měl'ancholy note ?- 6. Still "Whip poor Will!"-Art thou a sprite, From unknown regions sent, To wander in the gloom of night, And ask for punishment? 7. Is thine a conscience 5 sōre beset With guilt ?-or, what is worse, Hast thou to meet writs, duns, and debt— No money in thy pûrse? 8. If this be thy hard fate indeed, 1 Dost (dust). 2 Pěn'sĭve, thoughtful, or sad. 3 Sup'pli ant, one who entreats, or åsks humbly. 4 Sprite, an apparition; a spirit. 5 Conscience (kon' shěns), the power or principle within us which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them. The sympathy I give, I need- 9. Art thou a lover, Will?-Hast proved Thine is the lot of all who've loved, 10. Hast trusted in a friend, and seen A common error-men still lean 11. Hast thou, in seeking wealth or fame, O'er all the earth 'tis just the same 12. Hast found the world a Bābel1 wide, 13. What, none of these ?-Then, whence thy pain? Pray have the kindnèss to explain 14. Dost merely ask thy just deşert? 15. But use thee kindly; for my nerves, 1 Ba'bel, the name of the city where the confusion of languages took place [Gen. XI. 9]; hence, confusion; disorder. ? Mǎm'mon, wealth; riches. 3r'ro gance, haughtiness; the disposition to ûrge for one's self undue claims. 4 Pěn'ance, labor, pain, or suffering, self-applied, or imposed by authority of the Church, as a punishment for faults. 23. THE FRENCHMAN'S DOG. VOLUMES could be filled with anecdotes of the mutual VOLUM attachment of men and dogs; and we are of opinion that the affection in such cases is very much more noble and generous than is usually supposed. No person, probably, can have any proper idea of this tendernèss of feeling, who has not kept a favorite dog. 2. Courage, watchfulnèss, fidělity 3-many of the best qualities that awaken respect, admiration, and love, among human beings are possessed to a wonderful extent by dogs. There seems to be a sort of humanity in them. This is most ǎd'mirably shown in the beautiful picture that appears on the next page. Mark the determination to protect, and conscious repose of power, in the large dog, and the bristling assurance, indulged from a sense of security, of the small one! 3. Dogs, in their love for man, play a part in nearly every tragedy. A modern novelist, describing a mûrdered man, adds, in 1860. He died in New York, July 6, 1864. 1 George P. Morris, the popular American song-writer, was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 10, 1802. He commenced his literary career in New York, at the age of fifteen. As a journalist he was sprightly and entertaining, though as a poet, and more particularly as a song-writer, he acquired his chief reputation. Millions of copies of his songs have been circulated. Various editions of his poems have been pub. lished, the last of which appeared 2 An'ec dōte, a particular fact or single passage of private life of an interesting nature; a short story. 3 Fĭ děli ty, loyalty; faithfulness. 4 Hu mǎn'i ty, the nature peculiar to man; kindness. 5 Trǎg'e dy, a poem prepared for the stage, representing some action having a fatal and mournful end; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence. with râre power of picture-words: "The full, sweet light of the summer-day fell into the chamber of the dead, where they had laid him down, and left him in the deep stillnèss that no footfall stirred, no voice disturbed, and no love watched, save that of a little spaniel,1 which had crept into his breast, and flew at those who sought to move her from her vigil,2 and erouched there, trembling and moaning piteously." 1 Spaniel (spǎn'yĕl). Vig'il, the act of keeping awake; watch. |