From every side, with all your might,

You scraped, and scraped beyond your right;
And after death would fain atone,

By giving what is not your own."

"While there is life, there's hope," he cried; "Then why such haste?" He groaned, and died.

LITTLE BESSIE,

AND THE WAY IN WHICH SHE FELL ASLEEP.

HUG me closer, closer, mother,

Put

your arms around me tight,

I am cold and tired, mother,

And I feel so strange, to-night!
Something hurts me here, dear mother,
Like a stone upon my breast;
Oh! I wonder, wonder, mother,
Why it is I cannot rest.

All the day, while you were working,

As I lay upon the bed,

I was trying to be patient,

And to think of what you said;

How the kind and blesséd Jesus

Loves His lambs to watch and keep,

GAY.

And I wish He'd come and take me
In His arms that I might sleep.

Just before the lamp was lighted—
Just before the children came,-
When the room was very quiet,

I heard some one call my name;
All at once the window open'd,

In a field were lambs and sheep; Some from out a brook were drinking, Some were lying fast asleep!

But I could not see the Saviour,
Though I strain'd my eyes to see,

And I wonder'd if He saw me,
If He'd speak to such as me!

On a sudden I was gazing,

On a world so bright and fair;

It was full of happy children,
And they seemed so happy there.

They were singing, oh! so sweetly,—

They were singing sweeter, mother!

Than can sing our yellow bird. And while I my breath was holding, One so bright upon me smiled,

And I knew it must be Jesus

When he said, "Come here, my child!

"Come up here, my little Bessie !—
Come up here, and live with me,
Where the children never suffer,

But are happier than you see."
Then I thought of all you told me
Of that bright and happy land:
I was going when you call'd me,—
When you came and kiss'd my hand.

And at first I felt so sorry

You had call'd me; I would go,
Oh! to sleep, and never suffer.
Mother! don't be crying so!
Hug me closer, closer, mother!
Put your arms around me tight;
Oh! how much I love you, mother!
But I feel so strange to-night.

And the mother pressed her closer
To her over-burdened breast;
On the heart so nigh to breaking,
Lay the heart so near its rest.
In the solemn hour of midnight,
In the stillness dark and deep,
Lying on her mother's bosom
Little Bessie fell asleep!

ANONYMOUS.

MOSES AT THE FAIR.

("VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.")

As we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, my wife proposed that it was proper to sell our colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church, or upon a visit. This at first I opposed stoutly, but it was as stoutly defended, However, as I weakened, my antagonists gained strength, till at length it was resolved to part with him. As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home. "No, my dear," said she; "our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy or sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain."

As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business of the toilet being over, we had, at last, the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the

Y

colt, with a deal box before him, to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth called thunder and lightning, which, though grown too short, was much to good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of goslin green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black ribbon. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him, "Good luck! good luck!" till we could see him no longer.

He was scarce gone, when Mr. Thornhill's butler came to congratulate us upon our good fortune, saying that he overheard his young master mention our names with great commendation. Good fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman from the same family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing, that the two ladies had received such pleasing accounts from Mr. Thornhill of us all, that, after a few previous inquiries, they hoped to be perfectly satisfied. 'Ay," cried my wife, "I now see it is no easy matter to get into the families of the great; but when one once gets in, then, as Moses says, one may go to sleep." To this piece of humour, for she intended it for wit, my daughters assented with a loud laugh of pleasure. In short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she actually put her hand in her pocket and gave the messenger sevenpence-halfpenny.

66

This was to be our visiting day. The next that came was Mr. Burchell, who had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a pennyworth of gingerbread each, which my wife undertook to keep for them, and give them by letters at a time. He brought my