"Never beside your knee Shall I kneel down again at night to pray, "Oh, at the time of prayer, When you look round and see a vacant seat, "Father! I'm going home!. To the good home you speak of, that blest land "I must be happy then, From pain and death you say I shall be free- "Brother!-the little spot I used to call my garden, where long hours "Plant there some box or pine Something that lives in winter, and will be A verdant offering to my memory, And call it mine!" "Sister! my young rose-tree That all the spring has been my pleasant care, "And when its roses bloom, I shall be gone away-my short life done! Upon my tomb?" "Now, mother! sing the tune You sang last night-I'm weary and must sleep. Morning spread over earth her rosy wings, THE MOSS ROSE. FROM THE GERMAN OF KRUMMACHER. THE angel of the flowers, one day, Still fairest found where all are fair; 66 Then," said the rose, with deepen'd glow, "On me another grace bestow: The spirit paused in silent thought,- A veil of moss the angel throws, TO A BUTTERFLY. I'VE watch'd you now a full half-hour, I know not if you sleep or feed. How motionless!-not frozen seas This plot of orchard ground is ours, My trees they are, my sister's flowers; WORDSWORTH. Here rest your wings when they are weary, Here lodge as in a sanctuary! Come to us often; fear no wrong; Sit near us on the bough! We'll talk of sunshine and of song, And summer days when we were young; As twenty days are now! THE SOLDIER'S RETURN. MISS BLAMIRE. THE wars for many a month were o'er As I drew near, the cottage blazed, The evening fire was clear and bright, As through the window long I gazed, And saw each friend with dear delight. My father in his corner sat, My mother drew her useful thread; And Jean oft whisper'd to a friend, What could I do? if in I went, Surprise would chill each tender heart; Some story then I must invent, And act the poor maim'd soldier's part. I drew a bandage o'er my face, And soon I found in that best place, Not one dear friend knew aught of me. I ventured in ;-Tray wagg'd his tail, "Come here!" she cried, "what can he ail?” I changed my voice to that of age: "A soldier! ay, the best we have!" My father then drew in a seat; "You're welcome," with a sigh, he said. My mother fried her best hung meat, And curds and cheese the table spread. "I had a son," my father cried, "A soldier too, but he is gone." "Have you heard from him?" I replied, "I left behind me many a one; "And many a message have I brought Long for John Goodman's have I sought, "Oh! does he live?" my father cried; Who throbb'd as if her heart would break. My mother saw her catching sigh, While tears swam round in every eye, "He lives indeed! this kerchief see, To show he still escapes the grave." An arrow, darting from a bow, Could not more quick the token reach; And gave my voice its well known speech. "My Jessy dear!" I softly said; She gazed and answer'd with a sigh; My father danced around his son, 66 Hout, woman!" cried my father dear, Nay, may be, lass, escape the grave!" 1. Was the soldier expected home? 2. What time in the day did he reach his native cot? 3. How were his father and mother and the rest of the family engaged? 4. Name the friend to whom Jean was whispering. 5. What might the effects of his sudden entrance have been? 6. How did he manage to avoid giving them too great a surprise? 7. Who only recognised him at once? 8. How did Tray show that he knew him? 9. What word engaged their loves at once, and why? 10. Of whom did the old man speak? 11. What reply did the soldier make? 12. Who is Hal, and what is the full name? 13. Can you tell me what the father's name was? 14. What effect was produced by the information that Harry was alive? 15. What is meant by "the rock," in verse 13th? 16. Who knew the kerchief well, and why did she know it so well? 17. Who fainted, and how did the father act? 18. How did the brothers act, and what did the mother say? 19. What is meant by "glass" in verse 17th? KING CANUTE. BERNARD BARTON. 66 Canute, the greatest and most powerful monarch of his time, sovereign of Denmark and Norway as well as of England, could not fail of meeting with adulation from his courtiers; a tribute which is liberally paid even to the meanest and weakest princes. Some of his flatterers, breaking out one day in admiration of his grandeur, exclaimed, that everything was possible for him; upon which the monarch, it is said, ordered his chair to be set on the sea-shore, while the tide was rising; and as the waters approached he commanded them to retire, and to obey the voice of him who was lord of the ocean. He feigned to sit some time in expectation of their submission; but when the sea still advanced towards him, and began to wash him with its billows, he turned to his courtiers, and remarked to them, that every creature in the universe was feeble and impotent, and that power resided with one Being alone, in whose hands were all the elements of Nature, who could say to the ocean, Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther; and who could level with his nod the most towering piles of human pride and ambition."-Hume's History of England. UPON his royal throne he sat, In a monarch's thoughtful mood; His servile courtiers stood, With foolish flatteries, false and vain, They told him e'en the mighty deep That he could bid its billows leap Or still its stormy breast! He smiled contemptuously, and cried, Down to the Ocean's sounding shore King Canute's power proclaim; Not so, thought he, their noble king, His throne was placed by Ocean's side, Louder the stormy blast swept by, In scorn of his idle word; The briny deep its waves toss'd high, |