I've been told by my friends (if they do not belie me) But vain are the hopes which are formed by a parent, I nourished within me the seeds of decline. On a sick-bed I lay, through the flesh my bones started, My grief-wasted frame to a skeleton fell; My physicians foreboding took leave and departed, And they wished me dead now who wished me well. Life and soul were kept in by a mother's assistance, Who struggled with faith, and prevailed 'gainst despair; Like an angel she watched o'er the lamp of existence, And never would leave while a glimmer was there. By her care I'm alive now; - but what retribution The chance-rooted tree that by way-sides is planted, Where no friendly hand will watch o'er its young shoots, Has less blame if in autumn, when produce is wanted, But that which with labor in hot-beds is reared, THE RIDE. Miss Lamb. LATELY an equipage I overtook, And helped to lift it o'er a narrow brook. O happy town-bred girl, in fine chaise going I learned, as, walking slowly by their side, The bricks were smoking, and the ground was broke; There were no signs of verdure when she spoke. He, as the well informed delight in chiding The ignorant, her questions still deriding, To his good judgment modestly she yields, Till, brickkilns past, they reached the open fields. Then, as with rapturous wonder round she gazes On the green grass, the buttercups, and daisies, "This is the country sure enough!" she cries; “Is 't not a charming place? The boy replies, "We'll go no further." "No," she says, no need, No finer place than this can be indeed." 66 I left them gathering flowers, the happiest pair That ever London sent to breathe the fine fresh air. GENTLE RIVER. — Percy's Reliques. GENTLE river, gentle river, Lo! thy streams are stained with gore; Many a brave and noble captain All beside thy limpid waters, Lords, and dukes, and noble princes There the hero, brave Alonzo, There the fearless Urdiales Lo! where yonder Don Saavedra Through their squadrons slow retires; Proud Seville, his native city, Proud Seville his worth admires. Close behind, a renegado Loudly shouts, with taunting cry, "Yield thee, yield thee, Don Saavedra! Dost thou from the battle fly? "Well I know thee, haughty Christian, "Well I know thy aged parents, 66 May our prophet grant my wishes, Haughty chief, thou shalt be mine; Thou shalt drink that cup of sorrow Which I drank when I was thine." Like a lion turns the warrior, Back the hero, full of fury, Mute and lifeless on the ground. With a thousand Moors surrounded, Near him fighting, great Alonzo Furious press the hostile squadron, Where yon rock the plain o'ershadows, Close beneath its foot retired, Fainting sunk the bleeding hero, And without a groan expired. BETWEEN Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose ; So the Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause “In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear, And your Lordship," he said, "will undoubtedly find, That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear, Which amounts to possession time out of mind." Then holding the spectacles up to the court, "Your Lordship observes they are made with a straddle As wide as the ridge of the Nose is; in short, Designed to sit close to it, just like a saddle. Again, would your Lordship a moment suppose ("T is a case that has happened, and may be again) That the visage or countenance had not a Nose, Pray who would or who could wear spectacles then? "On the whole it appears, and my argument shows, With a reasoning the court will never condemn, That the spectacles plainly were made for the Nose, And the Nose was as plainly intended for them." |