THE KING AND THE COTTAGER. A PERSIAN LEGEND. BY J. G. SAXE. [Cheerful and earnest.] I. Pray list unto a legend II. "I must build another palace," III. "So I will have a new one, And I'll choose, God wot, another spot, IV. So he travelled o'er his kingdom All with a pleasant prospect V Not long with this endeavour A charming spot he found; VI. 'Ah, here," exclaimed the monarch, "Is just the proper spot, If this woman would allow me To remove her little cot! But the beldame answered plainly, SHE HAD RATHER HE WOULD NOT! VII. "Within this lonely cottage, VIII. Then all the courtiers mocked her, She neither loves nor fears; IX. "When ever was a subject Who might the King withstand? Or deem his spoken pleasure As less than his command? Of course he'll rout the beldame, And confiscate her land!" X. But, to their deep amazement, "Good woman, never heed them, The KING is on your side : Your cottage is your castle, And here you shall abide. XI. "To raze it in a moment, The power is mine, I grant; My absolute dominion A hundred poets chant; For being KHAN of Persia, There's nothing that I CAN'T!” XII. ('Twas in this pleasant fashion XIII. "But power is scarcely worthy Contemns the widow's cause, Or perpetrates injustice By trampling on the laws. XIV. "That I have wronged the meanest No honest tongue may say: So bide you in your cottage, Good woman, while you may; What's your's by deed and purchase No man may take away. XV. "And I will build beside it, XVI. "For so my loyal people, XVII. Now from his spoken purpose The palace and the cot! XVIII. Sure such unseemly neighbours His silly courtiers swore; They loved the King the more. XIX. Long, long he ruled his kingdom In honour and renown; But danger ever threatens The head that wears a crown, And Fortune, tired of smiling, For once put on a frown. XX. For ever secret Envy Attends a high estate; And ever lurking Malice Pursues the good and great; And ever base Ambition WILL END IN DEADLY HATE! XXI. And so two wicked courtiers, To mar the monarch's reign, XXII. But as all deeds of darkness XXIII. To plan their wicked treason, Hard by the widow's cot, And straight revealed the plot ! XXIV. "I SEE,"-exclaimed the Persian- HAS PROPPED A MONARCH'S THRONE!" FAITH. MY FATHER'S AT THE HELM. The curling waves with awful roar, And pallid fear's distracting power, Save one, the captain's darling child, "And fear'st thou not," a seaman cried, "While terrors overwhelm ?" "WHY SHOULD I FEAR?" the boy replied ; "MY FATHER'S AT THE HELM. Thus, when our worldly hopes are reft, We still have one sure anchor left,- He to our cries will lend an ear, Ile gives our pangs relief; He turns to smiles each trembling tear, Then turn to Him, 'mid terrors wild, |