It was the time when Ouse display'd
Its lilies newly blown;

Their beauties I intent survey'd,

And one I wish'd my own.

With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land:

But still the prize, though nearly caught,
Escaped my eager hand.

Beau marked my unsuccessful pains
With fix'd, considerate face,
And puzzling set his puppy brains
To comprehend the case.

But with a cherup* clear and strong,
Dispersing all his dream,

I thence withdrew, and follow'd long
The windings of the stream.

My ramble ended, I return'd;
Beau, trotting far before,
The floating wreath again discern'd,
And plunging, left the shore.

I saw him with that lily cropt
Impatient swim to meet

My quick approach, and soon he dropt

The treasure at my feet.

THE TRAVELLER'S DOG.

A BARKING Sound the shepherd hears,
A cry as of a dog or fox;
He halts, and searches with his eyes
Among the scatter'd rocks:

And now at distance can discern
A stirring in a brake of fern;
And instantly a dog is seen,
Glancing through that covert green.

* Cherup, a corruption of chirp.

F

Cowper.

adventure with the school boys, he ventured not beyond the premises, but quietly sneaked into the knife-house, and tried his hand at cleaning the knives. In this attempt he was evidently not successful, inasmuch as the handles were the parts he attempted to polish on the brick-board, and a cut was found in the middle of his hand the next day... Resolved, however, not to be defeated, he set to work to clean the shoes in imitation of the man William, his kind and indulgent keeper. Again, he had not distinctly recollected the various steps necessary for the right performance of the operation, for he covered an unfortunate shoe all over, sole and all, with the blacking which he got out of the blacking-bottle, and then he emptied what was left into the hollow of the shoe, nearly filling it: his coat was in a nice mess for some days afterwards.

One morning, again, when the servants returned from the parlor into the kitchen, they found Jacko had taken all the kitchen candlesticks out of the cupboard and arranged them on the fender, before the fire, as he had seen done before. Finding the black-lead in the same place, he took it to a bowl of water which was at hand, wetted it, and was diligently rubbing the table all over with it when he was caught in the act...On the entrance of the servants, he immediately retreated to his basket in the corner, and tried to look as though nothing had happened...A great treat to this would-be kitchenmaid was to have a large bowl of warm water given. him. He would first of all cunningly test the warmth with his hand, and then gradually step into the bath, first one foot and then the other, finally completely sitting down in it. Comfortably placed, he would then take the soap in his hands or feet, as the case might be, and rub himself all over... Having made a dreadful mess on the table, and finding the water becoming cold, the next part of the play was to get out and run as quickly as he could to the fire, where his coat soon became dry. If anybody laughed at him during this performance, he would chatter and grin at them, and frequently even splash water out of the bath towards, and sometimes over, them. Curiosities of Nat. History.

Poetry.

THE MONKEY.

MONKEY, little merry fellow,
Thou art Nature's Punchinello!
Full of fun as Puck could be,
Harlequin might learn of thee!

Look now at his odd grimaces!
Saw you ever such queer faces?
Now like learned judge sedate,
Now with nonsense in his pate!
Look now at him! Gently peep.
He pretends he is asleep;
Fast asleep upon his bed,

With his arm beneath his head.

Now that posture is not right,
And he is not settled quite -
There! that's better than before,
And the knave pretends to snore!

Ha! he is not half asleep;
See, he slyly takes a peep.
Monkey, though your eyes were shut,
You could see this little nut.

You shall have it, pigmy brother!
What, another? and another?
Nay, your cheeks are like a sack,—
Sit down and begin to crack.

There, the little ancient man
Cracks as fast as crack he can!
Now good bye, you merry fellow
Nature's primest Punchinello!

Mary Howitt.

A SWALLOW.

A SWALLOW in the spring

Came to our granary, and 'neath the eaves
Essay'd* to make her nest, and there did bring
Wet earth, and straw, and leaves.

Day after day she toil'd

With patient heart; but ere her work was crown'd,
Some sad mishap the tiny fabric spoil'd,
And dash'd it to the ground.

She found the ruin wrought:

Yet not cast down, forth from her place she flew,
And, with her mate, fresh earth and grasses brought,
And built her nest anew.

But scarcely had she placed
The last soft feather on its ample floor,
When wicked hands, or chance, again laid waste,
And wrought the ruin o'er.

But still her heart she kept,

And toil'd again; and last night, hearing calls,
I look'd, and lo! three little swallows slept
Within the earth-made walls.

R. Andross.

THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILIES.

THE noon was shady, and soft airs
Swept Ouse's silent tide,

When, 'scaped from literary carest,
I wander'd by its side.

My dog, now lost in flags and reeds,
Now starting into sight,

Pursued the swallow o'er the meads
With scarce a slower flight.

* Essay'd, tried, attempted.

ti. e., freed from the anxieties of study, or the toils of writing.

It was the time when Ouse display'd
Its lilies newly blown;

Their beauties I intent survey'd,

And one I wish'd my own.

With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land:

But still the prize, though nearly caught,
Escaped my eager hand.

Beau marked my unsuccessful pains

With fix'd, considerate face,

And puzzling set his

puppy brains

To comprehend the case.

But with a cherup* clear and strong,
Dispersing all his dream,

I thence withdrew, and follow'd long
The windings of the stream.

My ramble ended, I return'd;
Beau, trotting far before,
The floating wreath again discern'd,
And plunging, left the shore.

I saw him with that lily cropt
Impatient swim to meet

My quick approach, and soon he dropt
The treasure at my feet.

THE TRAVELLER'S DOG.

A BARKING Sound the shepherd hears,

A
He halts, and searches with his eyes
Among the scatter'd rocks:

cry as of a dog or fox;

And now at distance can discern
A stirring in a brake of fern;
And instantly a dog is seen,
Glancing through that covert green.

* Cherup, a corruption of chirp.

F

Cowper.