When but an idle boy I sought its grateful shade; Here too my sisters played. My father pressed my hand But let that old oak stand! My heart-strings round thee cling, Here shall the wild-bird sing, And still thy branches bend. NEAR THE LAKE BY GEORGE P. MORRIS Near the lake where drooped the willow, Long time ago! Where the rock threw back the billow, Brighter than snow Dwelt a maid, beloved and cherished By high and low; But with autumn's leaf she perished, Rock and tree and flowing water, Bee and bird and blossom taught her While to my fond words she listened, Murmuring low, Tenderly her dove-eyes glistened, Mingled were our hearts for ever, Can I now forget her? - Never! To her grave these tears are given, She's the star I missed from heaven, THE LAND O' THE LEAL BY CAROLINA, BARONESS NAIRNE I'm wearing awa', Jean, Like snaw when it's thaw, Jean; To the land o' the leal. There's nae sorrow there, Jean, There's neither cauld nor care, Jean, The day is aye fair In the land o' the leal. Ye were aye leal and true, Jean; To the land o' the leal. She was baith guid and fair, Jean: Then dry that tearfu' e'e, Jean, To the land o' the leal! Now fare ye weel, my ain Jean, In the land o' the leal. BINGEN ON THE RHINE BY MRS. CAROLINE E. S. NORTON A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, There was lack of woman's nursing, there was dearth of woman's tears; But a comrade stood beside him, while his lifeblood ebbed away, And bent, with pitying glances, to hear what he might say. The dying soldier faltered, and he took that comrade's hand, Oh! take the lesson to thy soul, forever clasp it fast, The mill will never grind again with water that is past." Work on while yet the sun doth shine, thou man of strength and will, The streamlet ne'er doth useless glide by clicking water-mill; Nor wait until to-morrow's light, beams brightly on thy way, For all that thou can'st call thine own, lies in the phrase to-day. Possessions, power, and blooming health must all be lost at last, "The mill will never grind again with water that is past." Oh! love thy God and fellow men, thyself consider last, For come it will when thou must scan dark errors of the past. Soon will this fight of life be o'er, and earth recede from view, And Heaven in all its glory shine, where all is true. pure and Ah! then thou'lt see more clearly still, the proverb deep and vast, "The mill will never grind again with water that is past." Tempered the heap with thrill of human tears; The color of the ground was in him, the red earth; The smack and tang of elemental things: The rectitude and patience of the cliff; The good-will of the rain that loves all leaves; Sprung from the West, The strength of virgin forests braced his mind, One fire was on his spirit, one resolve- |