could for the child, or that Margaret seemed anxious to break company with her, or that she had reached a point in the road where she could conveniently leave her, at this instant turned into Grove Street, and Margaret pursued her course homeward. A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE. BY EPES SARGENT. [Epes Sargent, journalist and author, was born at Gloucester, Mass., in 1813; a graduate of Harvard, and helped conduct the Collegian there; was on newspapers in Boston and New York, and edited the Boston Transcript for some years; after which he devoted himself to writing, editing, and compiling vast numbers of biographies, sets of literary works, adventure and educational books, dramas, etc. He wrote also several successful plays, novels of which "Peculiar" is still read, and many popular poems.] A LIFE on the ocean wave, A home on the rolling deep, On this dull, unchanging shore: Oh, give me the flashing brine, The spray and the tempest's roar! Once more on the deck I stand Of my own swift-gliding craft: The gale follows fair abaft. We shoot through the sparkling foam, Like the ocean bird, our home We'll find far out on the sea. The land is no longer in view, The clouds have begun to frown; But with a stout vessel and crew, We'll say, Let the storm come down! And the song of our hearts shall be, While the winds and the waters rave, A home on the rolling sea! A life on the ocean wave! VOL. XXIV.-15 THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS. BY THOMAS HOOD. [THOMAS HOOD, English poet, was born May 23, 1798, in London; son of a bookseller and nephew of an engraver. A merchant's clerk at thirteen, the engraver's apprentice at nineteen, his health gave out from the confinement of each; he next became a subeditor of the London Magazine for two years; then a professional man of letters, editing The Gem in 1829, starting the Comic Annual in 1830, succeeding Hook as editor of the New Monthly in 1841, and starting Hood's Own in 1844. He died May 3, 1845. An eleven-volume edition of his works was issued 1882-1884. His fame rests chiefly on his matchless lines “The Song of the Shirt," "The Bridge of Sighs,” “Fair Ines,” “A Deathbed,” "I Remember," "Eugene Aram's Dream," etc.; but his humorous pieces, like "The Lost Heir," "Ode to a Child," etc., the tragi-grotesque "Miss Kilmansegg," and others, swell its volume.] "Drowned! drowned!"— Hamlet. ONE more unfortunate, Take her up tenderly, Look at her garments Drips from her clothing; Touch her not scornfully; Make no deep scrutiny Past all dishonor, Death has left on her Only the beautiful, Still, for all slips of hers, Wipe those poor lips of hers Loop up her tresses Who was her father? Had she a sister? Had she a brother? Or was there a dearer one Still, and a nearer one Yet, than all other? Alas for the rarity Of Christian charity O, it was pitiful! Sisterly, brotherly, Fatherly, motherly Feelings had changed: Love, by harsh evidence, Thrown from its eminence; Even God's providence Seeming estranged. Where the lamps quiver So far in the river, With many a light From window and casement, From garret to basement, She stood with amazement, The bleak wind of March Made her tremble and shiver; But not the dark arch, Or the black flowing river: |