The silver moon looked kindly doon, Pale Cynthia reigns her 'lotted time, Reluctant still, we reach the gate For more than life her love to me. Ten times and aye the last embrace, With welded hands and bursting sigh, We tried to leave that happy place, But could not breathe that word "good bye." At last we tore ourselves away, Yet, left behind, each other's heart; Oh, may they ne'er be led astray, To play a fickle, faithless part. Lang, ere the sun with cheerful ray, Had reached the height where Cynthia shone ; The snorting engine bore away That heart, a prey for grief alone. To sell my work I crossed the sea, And tore my soul from Love away; To imitate the summer bee, Though heart and nature bade me stay. Seven times the globe had wheeled around, And though the jonquils rich abound, No lilies wooed my love from it, No peach-hued cheek, however pure, My heart from her, though far away. When on the lake the moonbeams played, And I no more for gold shall roam. SLEEPING IN CHURCH. DEAR Doctor M. D. W. James, No sooner do you take your seat It would be better far,-I think- For, when rich Elders always wink, The poor man's mind may roam- I have always viewed the habit of sleeping in what is called a church (a place set apart avowedly for the worship of God), as one of the most ungodly and irreligions-not to say gratuitously, hypocritically blasphemous, practices that man or woman can be guilty of; because they go spontaneously to a place, under the cloak of Religion, with the pretence of worshipping an Omniscient Beingwho is everywhere, and needs no mock worship-while their senses are steeped in brutish oblivion, like over-fed swine; or, it may be, worshipping the Devil, by dreaming of their worldly schemes and riches; or still grosser lusts of the flesh. In this respect they may be likened to the Ark of the Patriarch, where all ranks and kinds of beasts, whether clean or unclean, are permitted to enter. THE FIRST ANGRY WORD. "Reader attend, whether thy soul Know, prudent, cautious, self-control "And let all others learn when they are young, Strictly to bridle the unruly tongue."-Blind Harry. For "To be angry, is to punish thyself for the fault of another."--Swift. While "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he who taketh a city."Solomon. I FAIN would have young married pairs To read with care these verses, As I believe, domestic cares First spring from words and curses, When courting, you were mild as doves, To make yourselves a lie! Be doubly careful, since your one, For once you scold you'll ne'er be done, But wrangling still intrude, And be for ever rude. The dyke will long keep back the stream, But all your care will prove a dream, But, sure, a pair when joined in one, And wee faults never seeing. Ah! ere the Honeymoon be past, With hands, join hearts, while life shall last, Nor anger light your eyes. Be warned in time, and aye withhold For Peace and Love are more than gold; "I have known a spirit, calmer Than the calmest lake, and clear And its deepest depths were stirred Only by a word." Words, from "Legends and Lyrics," Adelaide Anne Proctor. "O! many a shaft at random sent, For Finds mark the archer little meant! And many a word at random spoken, "Lord of the Isles," by Walter Scott. May soothe or wound a heart that's broken !" "The current that with gentle murmur glides, Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all."-Ibid. ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND'S WIFE. AH! Willie lad, you've lost a friend, For Nature only once doth lend Another woman can be found, For, though the world with maids abound, THE DRUNKARD'S DOOM. Cassio "O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! To be now a sensible man, byand-by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil."-Othello. "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that putteth thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also."-Habakkuk ii. "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame then."-Isaiah v. 11. ADOSE which a horse or a pig would not stand, Proud, reasoning man, like a fool, drinks off hand, Well pleased on the morn if he headache escapes, At the end of a year one dram begets nine, He reels in the door with the laugh of a focl, And falls with a curse o'er his wee lassie's stool; The ass, though content to live on the coarsest food, is very particular as to its drink, and will scarcely drink if the water is the least sullied with impurity. |