Then sat they all so calm and still,
And spake not one rude word.

But when the maid departed,
A Swabian1 raised his hand,

And cried, all hot and flushed with wine,
"Long live the Swabian land!

"The greatest kingdom upon earth
Cannot with that compare;
With all the stout and hardy men,
And the nut-brown maidens there."

2

"Ha!" cried a Saxon, laughing,
And dashed his beard with wine;
"I had rather live in Lapland,3

Than that Swabian land of thine.

"The goodliest land on all this earth,
It is the Saxon land!

There have I as many maidens

As fingers on this hand!"

"Hold your tongues, both Swabian and Saxon!"

A bold Bohemian cries;

"If there's a heaven upon this earth,

In Bohemia1 it lies!

"There the tailor blows the flute,

And the cobbler blows the horn;

And the miner blows the bugle

Over mountain-gorge and bourn."6

1 Swabia, a district in South Germany. 2 Saxon, an inhabitant of Saxony, a kingdom of Germany. Lapland, a country in the north of Europe. Bohemia, a country now forming part of the Austrian Empire. 5 Mountain-gorge, ravine or chasm. 6 Bourn, brook, or torrent. In Scotland, a brook is sometimes termed a burn. (The word usually means a bound, or limit; for example"That undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveller returns."-Shakespeare.

And then the landlord's daughter

Up to heaven raised her hand,
And said, "Ye may no more contend,-
There lies the happiest land!"

THE THREE WARNINGS.-Mrs. Thrale.

THE tree of deepest root is found
Least willing still to quit the ground;
'Twas therefore said by ancient sages

1

That love of life increased with years
So much, that in our latter stages,
When pains grow sharp, and sickness rages,
The greatest love of life appears.

When sports went round and all were gay,
On neighbour Dobson's wedding day,
Death called aside the jocund groom
With him into another room,

And looking grave, "You must," says he,
"Quit your sweet bride, and come with me."
66 With you ? and quit my Susan's side?
With you ?" the hapless husband cried;
"Young as I am, 'tis monstrous hard!
Besides, in truth, I'm not prepared;
My thoughts on other matters go:
This is my wedding day, you know."
What more he urged I have not heard,
His reasons could not well be stronger;
So Death the poor delinquent * spared,
And left to live a little longer.
Yet, calling up a serious look,

4

His hour-glass trembled while he spoke

'Ancient sages, wise men of old. groom. Hapless, unfortunate.

3

4

2 Jocund groom, merry brideDelinquent, offender.

"Neighbour," he said, "farewell; no more
Shall Death disturb your mirthful hour;
And, further, to avoid all blame

Of cruelty upon my name,

To give you time for preparation,
And fit you for your
future station,

Three several warnings1 you shall have
Before you're summoned to the grave:
Willing, for once, I'll quit my prey,
And grant a kind reprieve,2
In hopes you'll have no more to say,
But, when I call again this way,

Well pleased, the world will leave."
To these conditions both consented,
And parted perfectly contented.

What next the hero of our tale befell,
How long he lived, how wise, how well,
How roundly he pursued his course,
And smoked his pipe, and stroked his hors
The willing Muse3 shall tell:

4

He chaffered then, he bought, he sold,
Nor once perceived his growing old,
Nor thought of Death as near.
His friends not false, his wife no shrew,
Many his gains, his children few,
He passed his hours in peace.

But while he viewed his wealth increase,
While thus along life's dusty road
The beaten track content he trod,
Old Time, whose haste no mortal spares,
Uncalled, unheeded, unawares,

Brought on his eightieth year.

Several warnings, distinct, separate warnings. postponement of the sentence of death. 3 Muse, poet. bargained.

And now one night, in musing1 mood,
As all alone he sate,

The unwelcome messenger of fate
Once more before him stood.

:

Half killed with anger and surprise,
"So soon returned?" old Dobson cries
"So soon, d'ye call it?" Death replies;
"Surely, my friend, you're but in jest!
Since I was here before

'Tis six aud forty years at least,
And you are now fourscore!"

"So much the worse," the clown rejoined;
"To spare the agèd would be kind;

Beside, you promised me three warnings,
Which I have looked for nights and mornings!"
"I know," cries Death, "that at the best,
I seldom am a welcome guest.

But don't be captious, friend, at least;
I little thought you'd still be able
To stump about your farm and stable;
Your years have run to a great length:
I wish you joy, though, of your strength!"
Hold," says the farmer, "not so fast!

I have been lame these four years past."
"And no great wonder," Death replies :
“ "However, you still keep your eyes,
And sure, to see one's loves and friends,
For legs and arms must make amends." 3
"Perhaps," says Dobson, " so it might;
But latterly I've lost my sight."

"This is a shocking story, faith :
But there's some comfort still," says Death,
"Each strives your sadness to amuse;
I warrant you hear all the news."

"There's none," cried he; "and if there were

Musing, thoughtful. 2 Captious, disposed to find fault Amends, recompense.

I'm grown so deaf, I could not hear."

66

2

Nay, then," the spectre stern rejoined,1
"Cease, prythee, cease these foolish yearnings; 3
If you are deaf, and lame, and blind,

You've had your three sufficient warnings;
So come along! no more we'll part,"
He said; and touched him with his dart:
And now old Dobson, turning pale,
Yields to his fate. So ends my tale.

TRIFLES.-M. F. Tupper.

"YET once more," saith the fool, "yet once more, and is it not a little one?

Spare me this folly yet an hour, for what is one among so

many

?"

And he blindeth his conscience with lies, and stupifieth his heart with doubts.

"Whom shall I harm in this matter; and a little ill breedeth much good.

My thoughts, are they not mine own? and they leave no sting behind them.

And if God so pardoneth crimes, how shall these petty sins afflict Him?"

So he transgresseth yet again, and falleth by little and little,

Till the ground crumble beneath him, and he sinketh ir. the gulf despairing;

For there is nothing in the earth so small, that it may not produce great things,

And no swerving from a right line, that may not lead eternally astray.

1 Rejoined, answered. 2 Prythee, I pray thee. 8 Yearnings, longing desires. 4 Swerving, departing, wandering, straying.