As if some awful deed were done, a shriek of grief and pain, [again. A cry, I humbly trust in God, I ne'er may hear "I hurried out to learn the cause; but overwhelmed with fright, The children never ceased to shriek, and from my frenzied sight, I missed the youngest of my babes, the darling of my care; But something caught my searching eyes, slow sailing through the air, [eye"Oh! what an awful spectacle to meet a father's His infant made a vulture's prey, with terror to descry; And know, with agonising breast, and with a maniac rave, That earthly power could not avail, that innocent to save! to me, "My infant stretched his little hands imploringly [to get free; And struggled with the ravenous bird, all vainly, At intervals, I heard his cries, as loud he shrieked and screamed, [seemed. Until, upon the azure sky, a lessening spot he "The vulture flapped his sail-like wings, though heavily he flew ; A mote upon the sun's broad face he seemed unto my view: But once I thought I saw him stoop, as if he would alight "Twas only a delusive thought, for all had vanished quite. "All search was vain, and years had passed; that child was ne'er forgot, When once a daring hunter climbed unto a lofty spot, From whence, upon a rugged crag the chamois never reached, He saw an infant's fleshless bones the elements had bleached! "I clambered up that rugged cliff-I could not stay away I knew they were my infant's bones thus hastening to decay: A tattered garment yet remained, though torn to many a shred; The crimson cap he wore that morn was still upon his head. "That dreary spot is pointed out to travellers passing by, Who often stand, and, musing gaze, nor go without a sigh." And as I journeyed, the next morn, along my sunny way, The precipice was shown to me, whereon the infant lay. ANON. Eliza at the Battle of Minden. The following piece records an incident in the battle of Minden, A.D. 1759. Minden is a town on the river Weser in Germany. A victory was gained here over the French by the English and Hanoverians. The English were commanded by Lord George Sackville and the Hanoverians by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. ow stood Eliza on the wood-crowned height, O'er Minden's plain, spectatress of the fight; Sought, with bold eye, amid the bloody strife, Her dearer self, the partner of her life; From hill to hill the rushing host pursued, And viewed his banner, or believed she viewed. Pleased with the distant roar, with quicker tread Fast by his hand one lisping boy she led; And one fair girl amid the loud alarm Slept on her kerchief, cradled by her arm; While round her brows bright beams of honour dart, And love's warm eddies circle in heart. Near and more near the intrepid beauty pressed, The red stream issuing from hér azure veins, "Oh O'er groaning heaps, the dying and the dead; Vault o'er the plain,—and in the tangled woodLo! dead Eliza—weltering in her blood! : Soon hears his listening son the welcome sounds, With open arms and sparkling eyes he bounds :"Speak low," he cries, and gives his little hand, "Mamma's asleep upon the dew-cold sand. Alas! we both with cold and hunger quakeWhy do you weep?-Mamma will soon awake." "She'll wake no more!" the hopeless mourner cried, Upturned his eyes, and clasped his hands, and sighed; Stretched on the ground a while entranced he lay, And pressed warm kisses on the lifeless clay; And then upsprung with wild convulsive start, And all the father kindled in his heart. "O Heaven!" he cried," my first rash vow forgive! These bind to earth, for these I pray to live!" Round his chill babes he wrapped his crimson vest, And clasped them, sobbing, to his aching breast. DR. ERASMUS DARWIN. The Sea Gull. WHITE bird of the tempest! O beautiful thing, |