THE LITTLE BOY'S GOOD NIGHT. THE sun is hidden from our sight, 'Tis time to say to all, "Good night!" Good night, my father, mother dear, Good night, my friends, both far and near, Good night, ye merry, merry birds, To all my pretty flowers, good night! The moon is lighting up the skies, ELIZA LEE FOLLEN. FORETHOUGHT; OR, THE TWO APPLE TREES. IN spring, when the apple trees stood in full bloom, This autumn, while John's tree is loaded with fruit, The truth is, the blossoms that grew there last spring That Harry had pulled every bunch off the tree, A SWALLOW. 37 Said John, "You should wait till the autumn comes round, Harry wishes to-day he had listened to John, But those who pluck flowers can't look to pluck fruit ; A SWALLOW. A SWALLOW in the spring Day after day she toiled With patient heart; but ere her work was crowned, She found the ruin wrought: Yet not cast down, forth from her place she flew, But scarcely had she placed But still her heart she kept, And toiled again; and last night, hearing calls, Within the earth-made walls. Essayel, tried. R. ANDROSS. A FABLE. In early times, the story says, When birds could talk and lecture, A magpie called her feathered friends To teach them architecture. "To build a nest, my courteous friends," They all began to chatter "No need to teach us that, good Mag; "Tis such an easy matter!" "To build a nest," Professor Mag Resumed her speech demurely, "First choose a well-forked bough, wherein The nest may sit securely." "Of course," said Jenny Wren. Two sticks for the foundation." "Now cross "Oh, all know that," quoth Mr. Rook, "Without this long oration." "Now bend some slender twigs, to form The round sides of the dwelling." "A fool knows that," exclaimed the thrush, "Without a magpie's telling." "Next take some wool, and line the nest, And bind it well together." 66 Why, that's as clear," exclaimed the owl, "As stars in frosty weather!" While thus they talked, Professor Mag Who now can build but half a nest, And cannot roof it over. THE SIGNS OF RAIN. The magpie sits beneath her roof, No better fate do men deserve, When self-conceit can lead them THE SIGNS OF RAIN. * THE hollow winds begin to blow, * On the rack, in great pain. EDWARD JENNER, 1749-1823. + Light brown. 39 Headlong. THE IVY IN THE DUNGEON.* THE ivy in a dungeon grew, But through the dungeon grating high The ivy felt a tremor shoot It grew, it crept, it pushed, it clomb ‡— Its clinging roots grew deep and strong, Its tender branches flourished fair. It reached the beam-it thrilled-it curled- It rose towards the dungeon bars, It looked upon the sun and stars. It felt the life of bursting spring, It heard the happy skylark sing; Inserted, together with "Summer Rain," p. 90, "Fairest and Dearest," p. 111, by Dr. Mackay; "The Dewdrops," p. 59, by Mr. Carpenter; "To J. H.," p. 116, and "The Glove," p. 138, by Leigh Hunt, by permission of Messrs. Routledge & Sons. + Sickly white. Climbed. |