Peter. But Peter did even more than this. He not only planned and directed, but he executed and thus encouraged by his example. He assisted with his own hands in building the first house that was erected. He had so ignorant and indolent a race of men to deal with, that it is probable he would never have got any of his great works accomplished, had he not, in addition to planning and superintending, engaged as a laborer in the midst of them. And for all this, he had qualified himself by his determined labor and application.

In the year 1717 the Czar made a second journey to Europe. He visited Copenhagen and Altone, and proceeding down the Elbe he continued his journey through Bremen to Amsterdam. His pleasure at once more beholding the scene of the exertions of his youth, in reflecting upon the happiness which he had been the means of conferring upon his countrymen, must indeed have been great! What gratification can be equal in fact to that of looking back upon years, industriously and usefully spent!

He did not now work as a laborer. This would have been no longer of any use. His wish was now to observe what further inventions and improvements had been introduced since his first visit, that he might make them known also in Russia. After spending some time in Amsterdam, he visited Paris, the principal city of France, which his other occupations had not left him leisure to do on his former journey.

In this celebrated city, he met with many clever and learned men. Some of these also, he persuaded to

accompany him to Russia and assist with the other clever men, who had already settled there, in the great works of various kinds which were in progress.

In the midst of all these useful employments, the indefatigable Czar was continually engaged in war with neighboring nations. These, unfortunately, have not even yet become sufficiently wise, to refrain from tearing one another to pieces, and from burning, destroying, and seizing one another's possessions; this is what they call war, and boast about, as if they were doing good actions. But at the time in which Peter lived, and in his country, as well as neighboring ones, people were still more barbarous.

So far as Peter engaged in war for the purpose of indefending his own country from the attacks of others, he was deserving of praise, but it cannot be denied that he engaged in many wars, for the sake of plundering, or, as it is called, conquering others.

During the whole of his life, he was constantly enployed in attempting something for the benefit of his country. If the object of his exertions was not always praiseworthy, it must be attributed to mistaken notions of what was good, rather than to the wilful performance of what was wrong. And at his death, which took place on the 21st March, 1725, it might truly be said, that few men had done more during their lives for the benefit of others.

We have only to reflect upon the energy and perseverance by which all this was accomplished, to admit at once, that Peter was fully deserving of the title, "Great," which was bestowed upon him by his admiring countrymen.

CHANGE.

THE wind is sweeping o'er the hill,

It hath a mournful sound,
As if it felt the difference

Its weary wing hath found.
A little while that wandering wind
Swept over leaf and flower:
For there was green for every tree,
And bloom for every hour.

It wander'd through the pleasant wood,
And caught the dove's lone song;
And by the garden beds, and bore
The roses' breath along.

But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps ;

No rose is open now →→

No music, for the wood-dove's nest
Is vacant on the bough.

Oh, human heart and wandering wind,

Go look upon the past;

The likeness is the same with each,

Their summer did not last.

Each mourns above the things it loved-
One o'er a flower and leaf;
The other over hopes and joys,
Whose beauty was as brief.

MELROSE ABBEY.

Ir thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright,
Go visit it by the pale moonlight;
For the gay beams of lightsome day
Gild, but to flout the ruins gray.

When the broken arches are black in night,
And each shafted oriel glimmers white;
When the cold light's uncertain shower
Streams on the ruined central tower;
When buttress and buttress alternately
Seem framed of ebou and ivory;
When silver edges the imagery,

And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die;
When distant Tweed is heard to rave,

And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave,
Then go,
but go alone the while -
Then view St David's ruin'd pile;
And, home returning, soothly swear,
Was never scene so sad and fair!

VENICE.

THERE is a glorious city in the sea;
The sea is in the broad, the narrow streets,
Ebbing and flowing; and the salt sea-weed
Clings to the marble of her palaces.

No track of men, no footsteps to and fro,
Lead to her gates. The path lies o'er the sea,
Invisible; and from the land we went,

As to a floating city steering in,

And gliding up her streets as in a dream,
So smoothly, silently—by many a dome
Mosque-like, and many a stately portico,
The statues ranged along an azure sky;
By many a pile in more than eastern splendor,

Of old the residence of merchant-kings;

The fronts of some, though time had shattered them,

Still glowing with the richest hues of art,

As though the wealth within them had run o'er.

22

A LION and a Bear meeting with the carcass of a Fawn in the forest, agreed to decide their title to it by force of arms. The battle was severe and tough on both sides; and they held out, tearing and worrying one another so long, that what with wounds and fatigue, they were so faint and weary, they were not able to strike another blow. Thus, while they lay upon the ground, panting and lolling out their tongues, a Fox chanced to pass that way, who, perceiving how the case stood, impudently stepped in between them,