At church, with meek and unaffected grace, His looks adorned the venerable place; Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray. The service past, around the pious man, With ready zeal, each honest rustic ran; Even children followed with endearing wile, And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile, His ready smile a parent's warmth expressed; Their welfare pleased him, and their cares distressed; To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given, But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven. As some tall cliff which lifts its awful form,

Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm; Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head.

-GOLDSMITH.

THE MOUSE'S PETITION.

Found in a trap, where he had been confined all night.

O HEAR a pensive prisoner's prayer,

For liberty that sighs;

And never let thine heart be shut

Against the wretch's cries!

For here forlorn and sad I sit
Within the wiry grate;

And tremble at the approaching morn
Which brings impending fate.

If e'er thy breast with freedom glowed,
And spurned a tyrant's chain,
Let not thy strong oppressive force
A freeborn mouse detain.

O do not stain with guiltless blood
Thy hospitable hearth;
Nor triumph that thy wiles betrayed
A prize so little worth!

The scattered gleanings of a feast

My frugal meals supply:
But if thine unrelenting heart
That slender boon deny,

The cheerful light, the vital air,
Are blessings widely given;
Let nature's commoners enjoy
The common gifts of Heaven.

The well-taught philosophic mind
To all compassion gives,

Casts round the world an equal eye,

And feels for all that lives.

-MRS BARBAULD.

INSTRUCTION.

Он happy is the man who hears
Instruction's warning voice,

And who celestial Wisdom makes
His early, only choice.

For she has treasures greater far
Than east or west unfold;
And her rewards more precious are
Than all their stores of gold.

In her right hand she holds to view
A length of happy days;
Riches, with splendid honours joined,
Are what her left displays.
She guides the young with innocence,
In pleasure's paths to tread,
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.

According as her labours rise,
So her rewards increase;

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

-SCRIPTURE PARAPHRASE.

INGRATITUDE.

BLOW, blow thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:

Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp

-SHAKSPEARE.

As friend remembered not.

FLY AWAY, LADYBIRD.

FLY away, Ladybird-fly away-
Away, away, away!

Fly from the wind of the wintry day,

Why do you linger?-away, away!

The flower and the tree have no home for thee;

The

gay and the fair are lonely and bare;

Then fly away, Ladybird, fly away

Away, away, away!

Fly away, Ladybird-fly away

Away, away, away!

Go with the happy, the glad, and the gay;

Gem of the garden, away, away!

The flower and the tree, what are they to thee?
Alone let them die, and far away fly.

Fly away, Ladybird, fly away-
Away, away, away!

-S. C. HALL.

EDWIN AND ANGELINA.

“TURN, gentle hermit of the dale,
And guide my lonely way,

To where yon taper cheers the vale
With hospitable ray.

For here forlorn and lost I tread,
With fainting steps and slow;
Where wilds immeasurably spread,
Seem lengthening as I go."

"Forbear, my son," the hermit cries,

"To tempt the dangerous gloom;

For yonder phantom only flies
To lure thee to thy doom.