So it was told Earth, Dark storied old Earth : Whatever strain from her lip should thrill Of Love worn or wasted, All the warm winds should tell Hid in the lonely, wild bee-haunted nooks, Hid for bird-lovers, All the sweet spring flowers shall breathe the low 'wait'; All the dear fledgling things Chirp it on new-found wings, Each bird should sing it that sings to his mate. Mystic, faint, far away, Where the dim shadows play, Where the Night meets the Day, Meets without whisper : Who shall divine or say, In that faint far-away Who grey in lore or the babiest lisper How shall it chance her, What the deep answer That shall be rung forth to Hope's trembling tone, When the immortal, There at Life's portal, Looseth her sandal, and standeth alone? SONNETS. I. The little cherished flowers, like baby eyes, Plead, 'love us, love us '-plead, like human things; 'O love us, love us, every rosebud sings, Each little rosebud dropped from Paradise. And we make answer (sometimes through hushed sighs), 'Yea, sweet God-tokens, as a baby brings To nestling breast the warmth with which it clings, And takes sweet kisses for its wayward cries. Ye bring the love ye ask; our human love Ye have been as the souls of our most dear, II. We are but little children :—it is best. To feel like little children is most sweet; Of curled brook-wavelets, whispering as they greet, To feel and never question its behest. It is so sweet to keep our childish wonder! To wake the hidden music; shall we dip A REV. JAMES G. SMALL. uthor of the widely-known and beautiful poem on "The Highlands," regarding which Wordsworth said that he found in it, both in sentiment and expression, "much, very much to admire," while Professor Wilson said of his "Scottish Martyrs" that it "displayed extraordinary talents and accomplishments," was born in Edinburgh in 1817. His father, George Small, after spending some time abroad as a military officer, had settled in Edinburgh, where he was afterwards well known as an active magistrate and an energetic promoter of all good works, especially at the time when the city was threatened with a visitation of cholera. On this occasion he was entrusted by the Board of Health with the organization of Soup Kitchens and Clothing Stores, and established the House of Refuge for the destitute, which has ever since continued to be one of the most useful institutions in Edinburgh. It should be here noted that the Rev. George Small, M.A., formerly of the B.M.S. at Calcutta in Benares, now missionary to the Laskars, &c., in London, in connection with the Asiatic Strangers' Home, Limehouse, is a brother of the subject of our sketch, and the author of several learned works. These include "A Handbook of Sanskrit Literature, with Appendices Descriptive of the Mythology, Castles, and Religious Sects of the Hindoos." He has also edited several important" enlarged editions' and written translations of works of a similar nature, all showing ripe scholarship and taste. From his volume of poetry, "Versions in Verse-Scriptural, Classical, and Oriental-with Miscellaneous Effusions," (London: Yates, Alexander, & Shepherd, 1882), we give the following: Children full of youthful glee! Young men-full of hopes and schemes, Maidens fair-and full of grace, Men and women-who have reached Men and women-full of cares, Sires and matrons-full of years, Looking back,- -" Memento Mori!" James received his early education at the High School, Edinburgh; and, having resolved to study for the ministry in connection with the Church of Scotland, he entered the University, where, during his literary course, he obtained four prizes for poetry. Two of these were awarded by Professor Wilson, in whose prize-list for essays he also held one of the highest places. In the Divinity Hall he likewise obtained honours. After having been licensed as a probationer by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, Mr Small published a volume of poems, including "The Highlands," "The Scottish Martyrs," "The Liberation of Greece," Imagination," &c. In the preface to that volume he said that "one of his principal inducements to publication at that time was that he might remove all temptation to the further prosecution of that fascinating art, which indeed he could never regret having pursued thus far-whatever might have been. his success in it-but for which he could have little expectation of finding leisure amidst those more important avocations to which he looked forward with the hope that they might occupy all his thoughts." To this he alluded in some verses which he wrote in Galloway, whither he proceeded immediately after the Disruption as a probationer of the Free Church of Scotland. (See "The Land of the Martyrs," given in our selections.) These lines, having been published, attracted some attention, and he was induced to follow them up by several pieces which appeared in various periodicals. Meanwhile the volume obtained the most favourable reception from the press, and commendatory letters were addressed to the author by several of the most eminent writers of the day, 66 ineluding Wordsworth, Lord Macaulay, &c. A second edition was published in London the year after its first appearance, in "Clarke's Cabinet Series of New and Popular Works." This edition included the more recent pieces, and an excellent and instructive appendix in prose to "The Highlands," which was intended to render that poem a fit companion for tourists. A third edition appeared in 1852, with a few additions. Three smaller publications were also issued in 1846, 1859 and 1866 respectively, entitled Songs of the Vineyard in Days of Gloom and Sunshine, Hymns for Youthful Voices," and "Psalms and Sacred Songs." Several hymns, too, with melodies by the author, were inserted in the "Revival Tune Book ;" and these, with others of a similar character, were got up in a collected form by the London Music Publishing Company, who also published five other songs separately. It may also be pointed out that the hymn in Sankey's "Sacred Songs and Solos, My Beloved and my Friend," is taken from Mr Small's little collection of "Psalms and Sacred Songs." 99 66 After occupying several preaching stations as a probationer, Mr Small went to Bervie, near Montrose, in 1846, and was settled there shortly afterwards as minister of the Free Church. With an attached flock, and widely esteemed, not only for his strong and keen intellect, but his warm, kindly manner, he has during a long ministry preferred to literary distinction the delight of enforcing the plain story of the love of Christ for men in this remote district. He enters the pulpit with his message prepared with as much conscientious care as if he were addressing a large city congregation, where his gifts would find full scope, and his discourses are treated with a grasp, strength, and assurance which make such sermons dear to Scotchmen. Mr Small having had occasion, as retiring Moderator, to preach before |