On Somers' side was turtle, on the shingle lying thick,
Which Somers couldn't eat, because it always made him
sick.

Grey gnashed his teeth with envy, as he saw a mighty store
Of turtle, unmolested, on his fellow-creature's shore.
The oysters at his feet, aside, impatiently he shoved,
For turtle, and his mother, were the only things he loved.

And Somers sighed in sorrow, as he settled in the south,
For the thought of Peter's oysters brought the water to his
mouth.

He longed to lay him down upon the shelly bed, and stuff,
For he'd often eaten oysters, but he'd never had enough.

How they wished an introduction to each other they had had,
When on board the Ballyshannon, and it almost drove them
mad

To think how very friendly with each other they might get,
If it wasn't for the arbitrary rule of etiquette.

One day when out a-hunting for the mus-ridiculous,
Grey overheard his fellow-man soliloquizing thus:

"I wonder how the playmates of my youth are getting on,
McConnell, S. B. Walters, Paddy Byles, and Robinson?"

These simple words made Peter as delighted as could be,
Old chummies at the Charter House, were Robinson and he.
He walked straight up to Somers. then he turned extremely
red,

Hesitated, hemmed and hawed, then cleared his throat, and
said:-

"I beg your pardon-pray forgive me if I seem too bold-
But you have breathed a name I knew, familiarly, of old.
You spoke aloud of Robinson-I happened to be by-
You know him?"

so do I."

66

Yes, extremely well." "Allow me

It was enough-they felt they could more pleasantly get on,
For (oh! the magic of the fact) they each knew Robinson;
And Mr. Somers' turtle was at Peter's service quite,
And Mr. Somers punished Peter's oyster bed all right.

They soon became like brothers, from community of wrongs,
They wrote each other little odes, and sang each other songs;
They told each other anecdotes-disparaging their wives-
On several occasions, too, they saved each others' lives.

They felt quite melancholy when they parted for the night,
And got up in the morning as soon as it was light.
Each other's pleasant company they reckoned so upon,
And all because it happened they each knew Robinson.
They lived for many years on that inhospitable shore,
And day by day they learned to love each other more and more.
At last, to their astonishment, on getting up one day,
They saw a frigate anchored in the offing of the bay.

To Peter an idea occurred-"Suppose we cross the main?
So good an opportunity may not occur again.”

And Somers thought a moment, then ejaculated, “Done! I wonder how my business in the city's getting on?"

“But stay!” said Mr. Peter. “When in England, as you know I earned a living tasting teas, for Baker, Croop & Co.

I

may have been suspended-my employers think me dead." "Then come with me," said Somers, "and taste indigo instead."

But all their plans were scattered in a moment, when they found

The vessel was a convict ship from Portland, outward bound. When a boat came out to fetch them, though they felt it very kind,

To go on board they firmly, and respectfully declined.

As both the happy settlers roared with laughter at the joke, They recognized a gentlemanly fellow pulling stroke; 'Twas Robinson, a convict, in an unbecoming frock, Condemned to seven years for misappropriating stock. They laughed no more, for Somers thought he had been very rash,

In knowing one whose friend had misappropriated cash; And Peter thought, a foolish tack he must have gone upon, In making the acquaintance of a friend of Robinson.

At first they didn't quarrel very openly, I've heard; They nodded when they met, and now and then exchanged a word;

The word grew rare and rarer, still the nodding of the head, But when they meet each other now, they cut each otherdead.

To allocate the island they agreed by word of mouth,
And Peter takes the north again, and Somers takes the south.
And Peter has the oysters, which he hates, in layers thick,
And Somers has the turtle, and it always makes him sick.

THE SIOUX CHIEF'S DAUGHTER.-JOAQUIN MILLEB

Two gray hawks ride the rising blast;
Dark cloven clouds drive to and fro
By peaks pre-eminent in snow;
A sounding river rushes past,
So wild, so vortex-like, and vast.
A lone lodge tops the windy hill;
A tawny maiden, mute and still,
Stands waiting at the river's brink,
As weird and wild as you can think.
A mighty chief is at her feet;
She does not heed him wooing so→
She hears the dark, wild waters flow:
She waits her lover, tall and fleet,
From far gold fields of Idaho,
Beyond the beaming hills of snow.

He comes! The grim chief springs in air-
His brawny arm, his blade is bare.

She turns; she lifts her round, brown hand;
She looks him fairly in the face;
She moves her foot a little pace

And says, with coldness and command,
"There's blood enough in this lorn land.

"But see! a test of strength and skili,
Of courage and fierce fortitude;
To breast and wrestle with the rude
And storm-born waters, now I will
Bestow you both.

Stand either side!

Take you my left, tall Idaho;

And you, my burly chief, I know

Would choose my right. Now peer you low
Across the waters wild and wide.

See! leaning so this morn I spied
Red berries dip yon farther side.
See, dipping, dripping in the stream,
Twin boughs of autumn berries gleam!
Now this, brave men, shall be the test:
Plunge in the stream, bear knife in teeth
To cut you bough for bridal wreath.
Plunge in! and he who bears him best,
And brings yon ruddy fruit to land

The first, shall have both heart and hand."

Two tawny men, tall, brown, and thewed
Like antique bronzes rarely seen,
Shot up like flame. She stood between
Like fixed, impassive fortitude.

Then one threw robes with sullen air,
And wound red fox-tails in his hair;
But one with face of proud delight
Entwined a crest of snowy white.
She stood between. She sudden gave
The sign, and each impatient brave
Shot sudden in the sounding wave;
The startled waters gurgled round;
Their stubborn strokes kept sullen sound.

Oh then awoke the love that slept!
Oh then her heart beat loud and strong!
Oh then the proud love pent up long
Broke forth in wail upon the air!
And leaning there she sobbed and wept,
With dark face mantled in her hair.
Now side by side the rivals plied,
Yet no man wasted word or breath;
All was as still as stream of death.

Now side by side their strength was tried,
And now they breathless paused and lay
Like brawny wrestlers well at bay.
And now they dived, dived long, and now
The black heads lifted from the foam,
And shook aback the dripping brow,
Then shouldered sudden glances home.
And then with burly front the brow
And bull-like neck shot sharp and blind,
And left a track of foam behind.

They near the shore at last; and now
The foam flies spouting from a face
That laughing lifts from out the race.

The race is won, the work is done!
She sees the climbing crest of snow;
She knows her tall, brown Idaho.
She cries aloud, she laughing cries,
And tears are streaming from her eyes:
"O splendid, kingly Idaho!

I kiss his lifted crest of snow;

2

"

I see him clutch the bended bough! 'Tis cleft-he turns! is coming now!

"My tall and tawny king, come back! Come swift, O sweet! why falter so?

Come! Come! What thing has crossed your track? I kneel to all the gods I know.

Oh come, my manly Idaho!

Great Spirit, what is this I dread?

Why there is blood! the wave is red!
That wrinkled chief, outstripped in race,
Dives down, and, hiding from my face,
Strikes underneath!
He rises now!

Now plucks my hero's berry bough,
And lifts aloft his red fox head,
And signals he has won for me.
Hist, softly! Let him come and see.

"Oh come! my white-crowned hero, come!
Oh come! and I will be your bride,
Despite yon chieftain's craft and might.
Come back to me! my lips are dumb,
My hands are helpless with despair;
The hair you kissed, my long, strong hair,
Is reaching to the ruddy tide,
That you may clutch it when you come.

How slow he buffets back the wave!
O God, he sinks! O Heaven! save
My brave, brave boy! He rises! See!
Hold fast, my boy! Strike! strike for me.
Strike straight this way! Strike firm and strong!
Hold fast your strength. It is not long—
O God, he sinks! He sinks! Is gone!
His face has perished from my sight.

"And did I dream, and do I wake? Or did I wake and now but dream?

And what is this crawls from the stream?

Oh, here is some mad, mad mistake!

What, you! The red fox at my feet?

You first, and failing from a race?

What! You have brought me berries red?

What! You have brought your bride a wreath?

You sly red fox with wrinkled face-

That blade has blood between your teeth!