Now he thinks he 'll go to sleep!
I can see the shadows creep
Over his eyes, in soft eclipse,
Over his brow, and over his lips,
Out in his little finger tips,—

Softly sinking, down he goes,

Down he goes, down he goes,

See! he is hushed in sweet repose!

"THE smallest planet is nearest the sun. Ye stand nearest to God, ye little ones."

"CHILDREN are God's apostles; day by day sent forth to preach of love, and hope, and peace."

LOWELL.

THE PLAYFUL CHILDREN JUST LET LOOSE

FROM SCHOOL.

FROM SHENSTONE'S "SCHOOLMISTRESS."

BUT now Dan Phoebus gains the middle sky,

And liberty unbars her prison door,

And like a rushing torrent out they fly;

And now the grassy cirque have covered o'er With boisterous revel, rout, and wild uproar; A thousand ways in wanton rings they run. Heaven shield their shortlived pastimes, I implore; For well may Freedom erst so dearly won Appear to childish elf more gladsome than the sun.

Enjoy, poor imps! enjoy your sportive trade,
And chase gay flies, and cull the fairest flowers;
For when my bones in grass-green sods are laid,
O, never may ye taste more careless hours
In knightly castles or in ladies' bowers.
O, vain to seek delight in earthly thing!

But most in courts, where proud ambition towers; Deluded wight! who weens fair peace can spring Beneath the pompous dome of kesar or of king.

See in each sprite some various bent appear !
These rudely carol most incondite lay;

Those sauntering on the green, with jocund leer
Salute the stranger passing on his way;

Some builden fragile. tenements of clay;

Some to the standing lake their courses bend,

With pebbles smooth at duck and drake to play; Thilk to the huckster's savory cottage lend,

In pastry kings and queens the allotted mite to spend.

Here as each season yields a different store,
Each season's stores in order ranged been;
Apples with cabbage-net y-covered o'er,
Galling full sore the unmoneyed wight, are seen,
See, cherries here, ere cherries yet abound,
With thread so white in tempting posies tied,
Scattering, like blooming maid, their glances round,
With pampered look draw little eyes aside;
And must be bought, though penury betide.
O, may no wight e'er penniless come there,

Lest, smit with ardent love, he pines with hopeless

care.

MY FIRST PLAY.

FRAGMENT FROM "ELIA."

THE boxes at that time, full of well-dressed women of quality, projected over the pit; and the pilasters