And the husband sat cheerily down by her side, 66 Oh, happy!" said he, "when our roaming is o'er, And the smoke of its hearth curling up to the sky; Hark! hark!-what was that? Hark! hark to the shout!-"Fire! fire!"-then a tramp and a rush and a rout; And an uproar of voices arose in the air, And the mother knelt down, and the half-spoken prayer Was, "Father, have mercy! look down on my child!" Fire! fire! it is raging above and below ; And the smoke and hot cinders all blindingly blow. The smoke in thick wreaths mounted higher and higher!- Alone with destruction !-alone on the sea! They prayed for the light, and at noontide about "A sail, ho! a sail !” cried the man on the lee; 66 A sail!" and they turned their glad eyes o'er the sea. 'They see us! they see us! the signal is waved! They bear down upon us !-thank God! we are saved!" C. MACKAY. THE CONTENTED AND VIRTUOUS WOODCUTTER. GOOD-MORROW!" the youth to the woodcutter cried, With a smile of good-nature, the old man replied, 66 "Master Francis, good-morrow to thee! 'Tis a good thing to rise with the lark, Master Frank, "You're a happy old man, Father Peter, and yet I hardly know why you are so; For your cheerfulness almost would make one forget The cares and afflictions which others oppress, Appear to disturb you-no never! Though your path all around may with shadows abound, Your heart seems as cheerful as ever." 'Master Francis, whate'er be thy joys in the world, When the darts of distress and affliction are hurled, Then the grace of thy God shall establish thy heart, "Father Peter, your body resembles the oak, Decked with leaves, though its trunk may decline; There is something still better than health in your face, You are aged and poor, and must troubles endure, 66 And what in this world should he fear, Master Frank, That the dawn of a glorious day will appear When the shadows of midnight are o'er? While thou sett'st thy young heart on the things of this world, Distraction and care will be given; But thy sorrow would cease, and thy soul rest in peace, "How many that live in the prime of their day, Despond when their prospects are fair; And hang down their heads, as they walk on their way, In darkness, and doubt, and despair! Father Peter, your footsteps are near to the grave, In a very few years you must die, And still on your tongue words of comfort are hung, "While our minds are fast bound by an earthly control, The world must in trouble be trod; But a hope bright as daylight shall dwell in his soul Master Frank, though the floods were fierce raging abroad, He would still be at rest, with a peace in his breast, Master Francis, a thousand enjoyments are near, But believing in Christ you have nothing to fear, If thou cling to his truth in the days of thy youth, ANON. REPORT ON AN ADJUDGED CASE. BETWEEN Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose- So Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause While chief baron Ear sat to balance the laws, "In behalf of the Nose it will quickly appear, And your lordship," he said, " will undoubtedly find, That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear; Which amounts to possession time out of mind." Then holding the spectacles up to the court 66 Your lordship observes they are made with a straddle, Again: would your lordship a moment suppose― With a reasoning the court will never condemn, Then shifting his side (as a lawyer knows how), So his lordship decreed, with a grave, solemn tone, COWPER. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. A FORWARD hare, of swiftness vain, He'd boast his flight 'twere vain to follow- A tortoise heard his vain oration, Come, 'tis a match-nay, no denial; The scampering hare outstripped the wind; your shell: I'll take a nap, and then be with thee." On to the goal securely crept, LLOYD. THE DIRGE OF WALLACE. THEY lighted a taper at the dead of night, But her brow and her bosom were damp with affright, And the lady of Elderslie wept for her lord, When a death-watch beat in her lonely room, When her curtain had shook of its own accord, |