Jeniko with the sprig of rosemary! Ha! Jeniko, my little friend, where is he?" "Jeniko is gone out to play," said Mistress Harvey; "but here is another little friend you never saw before”she uncovered the face of a baby in her arms as she spoke.-" and yet I'll be bound," she continued, while her eyes glistened with matronly pleasure, "you would rather have his little finger than Jeniko's whole body." "He is a boy, then," said Talbot, speaking low, and bending to kiss his son, while a tide of emotions that he had never felt before, flowed in upon his heart. "A brave boy, may God bless him!" exclaimed Dame Keating; "and may God forgive me the rash word I spoke to his and to his mother's prejudice!" "I remember that word well, Dame Margaret," said Talbot, "and I will forgive it to you on one condition." "What is that, kinsman ? and it will go hard with me but I will fulfil it." "If I can get a priest to christen my boy, Dame Margaret, you must stand his godmother." "Proud and happy I will be to do that, Sir John!" exclaimed the good woman, much gratified; "and if I stand godmother for the dear infant, who will be my gossip ?" "Choose him, dame," cried Talbot; "I lay it on you as a double expiation." Then a better sponsor to answer for the child's being made what an honest man should be, I could not choose," said Dame Keating, holding out her hand to Master Harvey. The merchant coloured and hesitated, as this was an honor for which he was unprepared; but Talbot seconded his gossip's election so cordially that he at length consented. "But," said he, with a conscions glance at Mistress Harvey, "methinks, Sir John, my Lady Talbot ought to be consulted." "I will answer for her," said the knight; "but if she should object to anything, you know, Master Harvey, who will have to yield. But it is now my turn to fulfil my part of the contract. Father Thomas, you will not fail me in this time of need?" "God forbid, my son," said Keating; "and when shall we have the christening?" "The sooner the better, by all means," said Talbot; " and if Mistress Harvey will but help me to find his mother, I will bring you the time and the name without delay." The knight returned soon after, and announced that all would be ready for the ceremony in an hour; "and since we are all loyal subjects now, Master Harvey," he said, "we think there can be no harm in calling the boy after a noble gentleman, who I wish was out of his troubles as happily as we are. We will call him, if it please you, Thomas Gerald." Somewhat better than a year after these events, a crowd had collected to witness the sailing of a vessel from Dudley's wharf. The ship was now some distance from land, when a cavalier rode down from the Dame's gate and cordially accosted a citizen who was returning from the river side. "Good morrow, Master Harvey, and is my fair gossip well ?” 66 Well, Sir John-quite well: and how is my godson, and my Lady Talbot, and the little girl? "All as happy as the day is long; and Tomas Oge grown a stirring blade, I promise you. But what is this bustle at the wharf, Master Harvey?" "Ah, Sir John, this comes of burying yourself in the woods: have you not heard the news of the peace at Disert yet?" "Not I, by my faith; but it is pleasant news to hear at any time. What terms has Lord Thomas obtained ?" 66 my A pardon, Sir John-a free pardon and promise of advancement: Lord Grey, our new Deputy, and he took the sacrament to it in open camp." "By my honor I am rejoiced to hear it! And does Lord Thomas go to England ?” "He is gone already, Sir John, and his uncles are following him to-day." "What! was it their embarkation you were witnessing?" "It was, Sir John; and though they have such security as I tell you, they seemed right loth to go: by the mass, they are five tall gentlemen." "What! the whole five?" "One and all, Sir John; Sir Oliver shook hands with me as he was going on board." If the invisible powers of earth and air But loving, gentle, and contemplative : Ah, noble spirit! gently would I chide Thy faithlessness, and fondly would believe, That from thee oft unbidden thoughts would start, heart. B. B. F. Nay-dost thou tremble at the winds Come, then; but first let tenderest hands Bids Love protect his Loved withal. A sunlight for the sunless glade ! II. A SONNET TO THE STARS. "The morning stars sang together."-JOB Xxxviii. 7. Brighteners of space, enthroned in burning cars, Veiled in a gorgeous ecstasy,-I hear Bursts of high melody, remote yet clear, Bright harmony of power, whose swelling strains Of this loud anthem to the One who reigns O'er Thee and them? Fallen Orb! the pure are given To praise the Purest. Sin would still the choir of heaven! III. THE RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD ARE FELT WITH A PAINFUL PLEASURE. TWO SONNETS. 1. Pardon my lingering soul! It travels back To seek the vanished Eden of its youth; Once more to group those scattered flowers, to track To the dull daily task of sin and strife, And cleft the golden mist that circled my young life! 2. Groves of my childhood! sunny fields that gleam To Earth and Earth's a radiance caught from heaven ! Of years, in counting o'er the withered leaves That Time hath strewn upon the path of Pride : That sway and swell my breast, like Ocean's stilly heaves. Lo! in the stillness of deep night I wake And such thou com'st. Ah, do I wake or sleep? THE BETRAYED ONE. When the sweet flower of beauty, full blown, All cheerless, forgets how to smile, Or chase the lone moments away; When the youth who thy fondness betrayed, And unmoved views the fast-falling tear; Oh, solace of death, intervene ; For enough of the world, and of man, And of love unpropitious, thou'st seen, W. A. B. |