If I can, I'll come again, mother, from out my resting-place; Good night, good night, when I have said good night for evermore, She'll find my garden tools upon the granary floor: Good night, sweet mother: call me before the day is born, CONCLUSION. I thought to pass away before, and yet alive I am; It seem'd so hard at first, mother, to leave the blessed sun, O blessings on his kindly voice, and on his silver hair! He showed me all the mercy, for he taught me all the sin; Now, though my lamp was lighted late, there's One will let me in: I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death-watch beat, All in the wild March morning I heard the angels call; For lying broad awake I thought of you and Effie dear; I thought that it was fancy, and I listen'd in my bed, And then did something speak to me--I know not what was said; For great delight and shuddering took hold of all my mind, And up the valley came again the music on the wind. But you were sleeping; and I said, "It's not for them; it's mine!" So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. I know The blessed music went that way my soul will have to go. But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am passed away. O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a glow; O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is done, For ever and for ever with those just souls and true And what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado? For ever and for ever, all in a blessed home And there to wait a little while till you and Effie come- And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. TO A CITY PIGEON. STOOP to my window, thou beautiful dove! AMERICAN. Why dost thou sit on the heated eaves, When the paths of the forest are cool and sweet? This noise of people-this breezeless air? Thou alone of the feathered race, Dost love with man in his haunts to be; Has become a name for trust and love. A holy gift is thine, sweet bird! Thou'rt named with childhood's earliest word! Are its brightest image of moving things. It is no light chance. Thou art set apart Angelic rays from thy pinions stream. Come, then, ever when day light leaves Lessons of heaven, sweet bird, in thee! CŒUR DE LION AT THE BIER OF HIS FATHER. MRS HEMANS. HENRY II. eldest son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, (so named from a sprig of broom-in Latin, planta genista in French, plante genet, which he used to wear in his cap) was born at Le Mans, in March 1133; began to reign Dec. 8th 1154, and died July 6th 1189, after having reigned 34 years. The latter part of his reign was spent in opposing the rebellions of his own sons, Henry, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, who being impatient for their father's death, and urged on by their own mother, took up arms to dethrone him. They did not succeed in their purpose;--Henry (the eldest son) died of a fever, Geoffrey was killed in a tournament or mock fight at Paris; and Richard collected an army to go to Palestine to fight against Saladin, but instead of going there he led it against his own father. Henry II. being quite unprepared for this attack, was obliged to make a treaty with his son, in which it was stipulated that all the Barons who had joined Richard should be freely pardoned. The King complied with this condition, but when he saw the name of his youngest and favourite son John among the rebels, he seemed to be broken-hearted, fell ill of a fever, and died. Henry II. was perhaps the ablest king that ever sat on the throne of England. The body of Henry II. lay in state in the Abbey-church of Fontevraud, where it was visited by Richard Cœur de Lion, who, on beholding it, was struck with horror and remorse, and reproached himself bitterly for that rebellious conduct which had been the means of bringing his father to an untimely grave. TORCHES were blazing clear, bymns pealing deep and slow, Where a king lay stately on his bier, in the church of Fontevraud,' Banners of battle o'er him hung, and warriors slept beneath, And light, as noon's broad light, was flung on the settled face of death. On the settled face of death a strong and ruddy glare, Though dimmed at times by the censer's breath, yet it fell still brightest there; As if each deeply-furrowed trace of earthly years to show,- The marble floor was swept by many a long dark stole, As the kneeling priests, round him that slept, sang mass for the parted soul; And solemn were the strains they poured through the stillness of the night, With the cross above, and the crown and sword, and the silent king in sight. There was heard a heavy clang, as of steel-girt men the tread, And the tombs and the hollow pavement rang with a sounding thrill of dread; And the holy chaunt was hushed awhile, as, by the torches' flame, He came with haughty look, an eagle glance and clear, But his proud heart through his breast-plate shook, when he stood beside the bier! He stood there still, with a drooping brow, and clasp'd hands o'er it raised; For his father lay before him low—it was Cœur-de-Lion2 gazed! And silently he strove with the workings of his breast; For his face was seen by his warrior train, and he recked not that they saw. He looked upon the dead, and sorrow seemed to lie, A weight of sorrow, even like lead, pale on the fast-shut eye. "O, father! is it vain, this late remorse and deep? I would give England's crown, my sire, to hear thee bless thy son! 1 Fontevraud, (Fong-te-vro) a village in France. 2 Coeur-de-Lion, that is, lion-hearted,-Richard was so called for his bravery. 66 Speak to me:-mighty grief ere now the dust hath stirred: Hear me but hear me !-father! chief! my king! I must be heard! Hushed, hushed!-how is it that I call, and that thou answerest not? When was it thus ?-woe, woe for all the love my soul forgot! "Thy silver hairs I see-so still, so sadly bright! And, father, father! but for me they had not been so white! I bore thee down, high heart at last; no longer couldst thou striveOh! for one moment of the past, to kneel and say 'forgive!' "Thou wert the noblest king, on a royal throne e'er seen, And thou didst wear, in knightly ring, of all, the stateliest mien; "Thou that my boyhood's guide didst take fond joy to be !--- 1. Why was Henry II. called Plantagenet? 2. Where and when was he born? 3. When did he ascend the throne? 4. When did he die, and how long did he reign? 5. What embittered the latter part of his reign? 6. Name his four sons, and say what came of them. 7. What stipulation had he to agree to, when he was forced to treat with his own son Richard? 8. What seemed to break his heart? of Fontevraud, where the king lay in state. 11. Describe the mail-clad warrior who entered the church. 12. Who was he, and what brought him there? 13. What would he have given to obtain his father's blessing and forgiveness? 14. What does he say on beholding his father's gray hairs? 15. How does he speak of his father as a king? 16. Explain to me the last line. 17. Can these children expect God's blessing who bring down their father's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave? |