IV. 22. THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. HY dost thou come at set of sun, W Those pensive 2 words to say? Why whip poor Will?-What has he done?— 2. Why come from yon leaf-shaded hill, Why ȧsk of me to whip poor Will?— 3. If poverty's his crime, let mîrth 4. Art Will himself?-It must be so : 5. Yet whêrefōre strain thy tiny throat, What means thy mělʼancholy note?— 66 6. Still Whip poor Will!"-Art thou å sprite,1 From unknown regions sent, To wander in the gloom of night, And ask for punishment? 7. Is thine à conscience 5 sōre beset With guilt?-or, what is worse, Hast thou to meet writs, duns, and debt— No money in thy pûrse? 8. If this be thy hard fate indeed, 1 Dost (dŭst). or åsks humbly. 5 Conscience (kon' shens), the power or principle within us which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them. The sympathy I give, I need— The poet's doom is thine! 9. Art thou a lover, Will ?-Hast proved Thine is the lot of all who've loved, 10. Hast trusted in a friend, and seen A common error-men still lean 11. Hast thou, in seeking wealth or fame, O'er all the earth 'tis just the same 12. Hast found the world à Babel1 wide, Where flourish Arrogance and Pride, 13. What, none of these?-Then, whence thy pain? Pray have the kindness to explain 14. Dost merely ask thy just deşert? 15. But use thee kindly; for my nerves, 16. Fârewell, poor Will !—not vălueless This lesson by thee given: "Keep thine own counsel, and confess SECTION VII. I. MORRIS.1 23. THE FRENCHMAN'S DOG. 2 VOLUMES could be filled with anecdotes of the mutual VOLUMES could attachment of men and dogs; and we are of opinion that the affection in such cases is very much more noble and generous than is usually supposed. No person, probably, can have any proper ide'ȧ of this tenderness of feeling, who has not kept a favorite dog. 2. Coŭrage, watchfulness, fidělity 3—many of the best qualities that awaken respect, admiration, and love, ȧmỏng human beings are possessed to a wonderful extent by dogs. There seems to be a sort of humanity in them. 4 This is most ǎd'mi rably shown in the beautiful picture that appears on the next page. Mark the determination to protect, and conscious repose of power, in the large dog, and the bristling assurance, indulged from a sense of security, of the small one! 3. Dogs, in their love for man, play å part in nearly ěvèry tragedy. A modern novelist, deseribing a mûrdered man, adds, 1 George P. Morris, the popular American song-writer, was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 10, 1802. He commenced his literary career in New York, at the age of fifteen. As a journalist he was sprightly and entertaining, though as a poet, and more particularly as a song-writer, he acquired his chief reputation. Millions of copies of his songs have been circulated. Various editions of his poems have been published, the låst of which appeared in 1860. He died in New York, July 6, 1864. 2 An'ec dōte, å particular fact or single passage of private life of an interesting nature; å short story. Fĭ děl'i ty, loyalty; faithfulness. 4 Hu mǎn'i ty, the nature peculiar to man; kindness. 5 Trǎg'e dy, å poem prepared for the stage, representing some action having a fatal and mōurnful end; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence. with râre power of pieture-words: "The full, sweet light of the summer-day fell into the chamber of the dead, where they had laid him down, and left him in the deep stillness that no footfall stirred, no voice disturbed, and no love watched, save that of å little spaniel, which had crept into his breast, and flew at those who sought to move her from her vigil,2 and erouched there, trembling and moaning piteously." 1 Spaniel (spăn'yel). 2 Vig'il, the act of keeping åwake; watch. 4. We believe, that, among the different varieties of dogs, the small spaniel kind is the most affectionate; but probably we are led to entertain this notion from an acquaintanceship with the character of our own favorite Fiddy-ȧ small spaniel, of joyous and intelligent character, and possessing boundless attachment to persons åbout her. An anecdote is told of å small dog of this variety which does not appear to us to be in any respect incredible.1 5. During the Reign of Terror in Frånce, å gentleman in one of the northern departments was accused of conspiring against the republic, and sent to Paris, to appear before the revolutionary tribūnal.2 His dog was with him when he was seized, and was allowed to accompany him, but, on arriving in the capital, was refused admission to the prison of his måster. The distress was mutual: the gentleman sorrowed for the loss of the society of his dog; the dog pined to get admission to the prison. 6. Living only on scraps of food picked up in the neighborhood, the poor dog spent most of his time near the door of the prison, into which he made repeated attempts to gain admittance. Such unremitting fidělity at length melted the feelings of the porter, and the dog was allowed to enter. His joy at seeing his måster was unbounded; that of his måster, on seeing his dog, was not less. 7. It was difficult to separate them; but the jailer, fearing for himself, carried the dog out of the prison. Every day, however, at a certain hour, he was allowed to repeat his visit. At these interviews, the affectionate animal licked the hands and face of his måster; looked at him again; again licked his hands, and whined his delight. After a few mornings, feeling assured of re-admission, he departed at the call of the jailer. 8. The day came when the unfortunate captive was taken before the tribunal; and, to the surprise of the court, thêre also was the dog. It had followed its måster into the hall, and clung to him, as if to protect him from injury. One would naturally imagine that the spectacle of so much affection would 1 In crěd'i ble, not possible to be credited or believed. 2 Trī bū'nal, the seat of å judge; hence, à court of justice. 3 Master (måster). 4 Spěc'ta cle, something presented to view; usually, à remarkable sight. |