And then he told how he had knelt
Where'er our Lord had prayed ;
How he had in the garden been,

And the tomb where he was laid;

And then he turned unto the book,
And read in English plain,
How Christ had died on Calvary,
How he had risen again;

And all his comfortable words,
His deeds of mercy all,

He read, and of the widow's mite,
And the poor prodigal.

As water to the parched soil,
As to the hungry, bread;
So fell upon the woodman's soul
Each word the pilgrim read.

Thus, through the midnight did they read
Until the dawn of day;

And then came in the woodman's son

To fetch the book away.

All quick and troubled was his speech,
His face was pale with dread,

For he said "The king had made a law

That the book must not be read,

For it was such fearful heresy,

The holy abbot said."

TO MY LITTLE COUSIN, WITH HER

FIRST BONNET.

MISS BOWLES.

FAIRIES! guard the baby's bonnet !

Set a special watch upon it;

Elfin people! to your care

I commit it, fresh and fair;

Neat as neatness,-white as snow,

See ye keep it ever so.

Watch and ward set all about,-
Some within, and some without:
Over it with dainty hand,
On her kirtle green expand;
Two or three about the bow
Vigilant concern bestow.

A score at least, on either side,
'Gainst evil accident provide ;-
Fall, or jar, or overlay ;

And so the precious charge convey

Through all the dangers of the way.
But when those are battled through,
Fairies, more remains to do;
Ye must gift before ye go,

The bonnet and the babe also.

Gift it to protect her well,
Fays, from all malignant spell ;
Charms and seasons to defy.
Blighting wind and evil eye.
And the bonny babe! on her
All your choicest gifts confer;
Just as much of wit and sense
As may be hers, without pretence;
Just as much of grace and beauty
As shall not interfere with duty;
Just as much of sprightliness
As shall companion gentleness;
Just as much light-hearted cheer,
As may be melted to a tear;
By a word, a tone, a look,-
Pity's touch, or Love's rebuke.
As much of frankness, bland and free,
As may consort with modesty ;

As much of feeling as will bear
Of after life the wear and tear;
As much of life-but, Fairies! there

Ye vanish into thinnest air!

And with ye parts the playful vein,
That loved a light and trivial strain.

Befits me better, babe! for thee
To invoke Almighty agency-
Almighty love-Almighty power,
To nurture up the human flower;
To cherish it with heavenly dew,
Sustain with earthly blessings too;
And when the ripe, full time shall be,
Engraft it on eternity.

A JEWISH FAMILY.

(In a small valley opposite Saint Goar, upon the Rhine.)

WORDSWORTH.

GENIUS of Raphael! if thy wings

Might bear thee to this glen, With faithful memory left of things To pencil dear, and pen,

Thou wouldst forego the neighbouring Rhine

And all his majesty

A studious forehead to incline

O'er this poor family.

The mother-her thou must have seen,

In spirit, ere she came

To dwell these rifted rocks between,

Or found on earth a name;

An image, too, of that sweet boy,
Thy inspirations give-

Of playfulness, and love, and joy,
Predestined here to live.