From every side, with all your might, You scraped, and scraped beyond your right; By giving what is not your own." "While there is life, there's hope," he cried; "Then why such haste?" He groaned, and died. LITTLE BESSIE, AND THE WAY IN WHICH SHE FELL ASLEEP. HUG me closer, closer, mother, Put your arms around me tight, I am cold and tired, mother, And I feel so strange, to-night! All the day, while you were working, As I lay upon the bed, I was trying to be patient, And to think of what you said; How the kind and blesséd Jesus Loves His lambs to watch and keep, GAY. And I wish He'd come and take me Just before the lamp was lighted— I heard some one call my name; In a field were lambs and sheep; Some from out a brook were drinking, Some were lying fast asleep! But I could not see the Saviour, And I wonder'd if He saw me, On a sudden I was gazing, On a world so bright and fair; It was full of happy children, They were singing, oh! so sweetly,— They were singing sweeter, mother! Than can sing our yellow bird. And while I my breath was holding, One so bright upon me smiled, And I knew it must be Jesus When he said, "Come here, my child! "Come up here, my little Bessie !— But are happier than you see." And at first I felt so sorry You had call'd me; I would go, And the mother pressed her closer ANONYMOUS. MOSES AT THE FAIR. ("VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.") As we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, my wife proposed that it was proper to sell our colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church, or upon a visit. This at first I opposed stoutly, but it was as stoutly defended, However, as I weakened, my antagonists gained strength, till at length it was resolved to part with him. As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home. "No, my dear," said she; "our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy or sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain." As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business of the toilet being over, we had, at last, the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the Y colt, with a deal box before him, to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth called thunder and lightning, which, though grown too short, was much to good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of goslin green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black ribbon. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him, "Good luck! good luck!" till we could see him no longer. He was scarce gone, when Mr. Thornhill's butler came to congratulate us upon our good fortune, saying that he overheard his young master mention our names with great commendation. Good fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman from the same family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing, that the two ladies had received such pleasing accounts from Mr. Thornhill of us all, that, after a few previous inquiries, they hoped to be perfectly satisfied. 'Ay," cried my wife, "I now see it is no easy matter to get into the families of the great; but when one once gets in, then, as Moses says, one may go to sleep." To this piece of humour, for she intended it for wit, my daughters assented with a loud laugh of pleasure. In short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she actually put her hand in her pocket and gave the messenger sevenpence-halfpenny. 66 This was to be our visiting day. The next that came was Mr. Burchell, who had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a pennyworth of gingerbread each, which my wife undertook to keep for them, and give them by letters at a time. He brought my |