Quick chain me fast, and tie me down
There now
- he clasps me in his arms;
Down-down the window-close it tight:
Say, don't you hear my wild alarms?

"Fire! water! help! come, haste — I'll die; Come, take me from this burning bed: The smoke. -I'm choking- cannot cry;

There now

-it's catching at my head!

But see! again that demon's come;

Look! there he peeps through yonder crack;

Mark how his burning eyeballs flash!

How fierce he grins! what brought him back?

“There stands his burning coach of fire;
He smiles, and beckons me to come.
What are those words he's written there?
'In hell, we never want for rum !'”
One loud, one piercing shriek was heard;
One yell rang out upon the air;
One sound, and one alone, came forth-
The victim's cry of wild despair.

“Why longer wait? I'm ripe for hell;
A spirit's sent to bear me down.
There, in the regions of the lost,
I sure will wear a fiery crown.
Damned, I know, without a hope!
(One moment more, and then I'll come !)
And there I'll quench my awful thirst
With boiling, burning, fiery rum!”

ALLISON.

SONG OF THE WATER DRINKER.

Он, water for me, bright water for me-
Give wine to the tremulous debauchee —
It cooleth the brow, it cooleth the brain,

It maketh the faint one strong again:

It comes o'er the sense like a breeze from the sea,
All freshness, like infant purity.

So water for me, bright water for me-
Give wine, give wine to the debauchee!

Fill to the brim, fill. fill to the brim,
Let the flowing crystal kiss the rim ;
For my hand is steady, my eye is true,

For I, like the flowers, drink nothing — but dew.

O water, bright water's a mine of wealth,
And the ores it yieldeth are vigor and health.
Then water, dear water, for me, for me,
And wine to the tremulous debauchee !

Fill again to the brim, again to the brim,
For water strengtheneth life and limb!
To the days of the aged, it addeth length,
To the might of the strong, it addeth strength;
It freshens the heart, it brightens the sight,
'Tis like quaffing a goblet of morning light;
So water, I will drink nought but thee,
Thou parent of health and energy!

When o'er the hills like a gladsome bride,
Morning walks forth in her beauty's pride,
Leading a band of laughing hours,
Brushing the dew from the nodding flowers;
Oh cheerily then my voice is heard,
Mingling with that of the soaring bird,
Who flingeth abroad his matins loud,

As he freshens his wing in the cold grey cloud.

But when evening has quitted her sheltering yew, Drowsily flying, and weaving anew

Her dusky meshes o'er land and sea,

How gently, O sleep, fall thy poppies on me!

For I drink water, pure, cold, and bright,

And my dreams are of heaven the live-long night; So burrah! for thee, water, hurrah! hurrah! Thou art silver and gold, thou art ribbon and star, Hurrah! for bright water, hurrah! hurrah!

JOHNSON.

HUMOROUS PIECES.

SCENE FROM THE RIVALS.

Captain Absolute. Now for a parental lecture—I hope he has heard nothing of the business that has brought me here- I wish the gout had held him fast in Devonshire, with all my heart!

[Enter Sir Anthony.]

Sir, I am delighted to see you here, and looking so well!-your sudden arrival at Bath made me apprehensive for your health!

Sir Anthony. Very apprehensive, I dare say, Jack. — What, vou are recruiting here, hey?

Capt. Yes, sir, I am on duty.

Sir. Anth. Well, Jack, I am glad to see you, though I did not expect it; for I was going to write to you on a little matter of business. Jack, I have been considering that I grow old and infirm, and shall probably not trouble you long.

Capt. Pardon me, sir, I never saw you look more strong and hearty, and I pray fervently that you may continue so.

Sir Anth. I hope your prayers may be heard, with all my heart. Well then, Jack, I have been considering that I am so strong and hearty, I may continue to plague you a long time. Now, Jack, I am sensible that the income of your commission, and what I have hitherto allowed you, is but a small pittance for a lad of your spirit. Capt. Sir, you are very good.

Sir A. And it is my wish, while yet I live, to have my boy make some figure in the world. I have resolved, therefore, to fix you at once in a noble independence.