ONE morning (raw it was and wet, A woman on the road I met, Not old, though something past her prime; The ancient spirit is not dead; Old times, thought I, are breathing there; Such strength, a dignity so fair: She begged an alms, like one in poor estate, When from these lofty thoughts I woke, She answered, soon as she the question heard, "A simple burthen, Sir, a little singing-bird." And, thus continuing, she said, In Denmark he was cast away: And I have travelled weary miles to see If aught which he had owned might still remain for me. The bird and cage they both were his : "Twas my son's bird; and neat and trim This singing-bird had gone with him; When last he sailed, he left the bird behind; From bodings, as might be, that hung upon his mind. He to a fellow-lodger's care Had left it to be watched and fed, And pipe its song in safety;-there I found it when my son was dead; And now, God help me for my little wit! I bear it with me, Sir;-he took so much delight in it." 'Tis pleasant by the cheerful hearth to hear 1. What does the poet say is a pleasant thing? 2. What is the difference between the two phrases hear of and hear tempests ? 3. In what sense is perilous used here? 4. What, on the other hand, does the poet say is a dreadful thing indeed? 5. Is there no quarter to which the tempest-tossed mariner may turn for help in his extremity? 6. Where is that quarter. Southey. 7. Will a man who has beheld such a scene as is here described so well, readily forget it? 8. When will he especially remember the scene?. 9. Whom will he then remember, and pray for too I should think? 10. Will any of you tell me all the circumstances connected with Christ's stil ling the tempest, and the place in the New Testament where an account ofit is given? GENTLY, dear mother, here The bridge is broken near thee, and below Lean on me, mother-plant thy staff before thee, The green leaves as we pass Grows green and lovely, where the wood paths wind, And nature is all bright; And the faint grey and crimson of the dawn, Quivers in tremulous softness on the sky- And the kind looks of friends Low to thine ear with duty unforgot- But thou canst hear-and love And while I speak thou knowest if I smile Yes thou canst hear-and He R To the attentive ear like harps hath strung And 'tis a lesson in our hearts to know, 1. Why does the daughter caution her mother to walk softly now? 2. What is here said of the green leaves? 5. What of the morning light and of the evening light? 6. Wherefore does the daughter grieve amidst these beauties of nature? 7. How do the blind mother's friends show their sympathy? Anonymous. 10. In what kind of tones are feelings of love and affection generally uttered? 11. What in the daughter's voice betrays her love for her mother? 12. Wherefore does the daughter repeat these words "thou canst hear"? 13. In what is God here shown to be good to the blind? 14. Name the five senses. 15. What feeling towards God should fill our hearts who are possessed of all our 8. How does the child that meets her act? external senses? 9. How does the stripling act? 16. How should we ever act towards the blind? X. THE WOODCUTTER'S NIGHT SONG. "WORK is the appointed calling of man on earth, the end for which his various faculties were given, the element in which his nature is ordained to develop itself, and in which his progressive advance towards heaven is to lie."-Arnold. WELCOME, red and roundy sun, Joyful are the thoughts of home, Though to leave your pretty song, Then I'm with you all again. If I stop, and stand about, Well I know how things will be, Judy will be looking out Every now and then for me. So fare-ye-well! and hold your tongues; That never care to drop a crumb. All day long I love the oaks, Wife and children all are there, Soon as ever I get in, When my fagot down I fling, Welcome, red and roundy sun, Joyful are the thoughts of home, 1. How does the woodcutter address the sun? 2. What has made him ready for his chair? 3. What are the bill and mittens ? 4. What is the woodcutter sorry to leave? 5. If he spend his time speaking to the birds what will be taking place at home? Clare. 6. Name the woodman's wife? 7. Does he grumble at his lowly station? 8. Tell me the prettiest spot to him at night? 9. In what state are matters at home? 10. What carries he home on his shoulder? XI-LINES TO A SWALLOW. "The Swallow," says Sir Humphrey Davy, in his Salmonia, "is one of my favourite birds, and a rival of the Nightingale, for he cheers my sense of seeing as much as the other does my sense of hearing. He is the glad prophet of the year-the harbinger of the best season; he lives a life of enjoyment amongst the loveliest forms of nature; winter is unknown to him; and he leaves the green meadows of England in autumn for the myrtle and orange groves of Italy, and for the palms of Africa." The bird does not winter in Italy, leaving it in autumn, and going off in the direction of Egypt, and has been seen in Egypt going still farther south; but, in other respects, "this is in truth," to use the words of Mr. Yarrell," a brief but perfect sketch of the history of the Swallow."-Patterson's Zoology. THE swallow is a bonnie bird, comes twitt'ring o'er the sea, She hunts the summer o'er the earth with little wearied wing. |