have continued, I know not, had not my intended fatherin-law called me aside, and hinted that as the night was dark, and there was some appearance of rain, I had perhaps better return. I thanked him for his truly paternal care, and accordingly took my departure in high good humour, and the next week was informed that the young people were married.

FOR AN ALBUM.

To scenes sequestered from the world's applause,
In vain the Lily of the Vale withdraws,

In vain to veil, with graceful bend, she tries,
Her snowy bosom from th' enraptured gaze,
In vain she bids protecting foliage rise—

Surrounding sweetness her retreat betrays.

So, though o'ershadowed by misfortune's gloom, Through time, obscurely may the good man move—

His blameless life ascends a sweet perfume,

And angels view him with the smiles of love.

PETER'S RIDE TO THE WEDDING.

WRITTEN FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF A CHILD.

Peter would go to the wedding, he would,
So he saddled his ass-and his wife;
She was to ride behind, if she could,

For says Peter, says he, "the woman she should
Follow, not lead, through life.

"He's mighty convenient, the ass, my dear,
And gentle and safe, and now

You stick by the tail, while I stick by the ear,
And we 'll get to the wedding in time, never fear,

If the wind and the weather allow."

The wind and the weather were not to be blamed,

But the ass, he had let in a whim,

That two at a time was a load never framed

For the back of one ass, and he seemed quite ashamed That two should be stuck upon him.

"Come, Dobbin," says Peter, "I'm thinking we'll trot :" "I'm thinking we wont," says the ass,

(In the language of conduct,) and stuck to the spot, As though he had said he had sooner be shot,

Than lift up a toe from the grass.

Says Peter, says he, "I'll whip him a little ;"

"Try it, my dear," says she:

But he might just as well have whipped a brass kettle, The ass he was made of such obstinate mettle

That never a step moved he.

"I'll prick him, my dear, with a needle-the steel May possibly alter his mind;"

The ass felt the needle, and up went his heel,

"I'm thinking," says Peter, "he's seeming to feel Some notion of moving behind.”

"Now give me the needle, I'll tickle his ear,
And set t'other end, too, a going;"

The ass felt the needle, and upwards he reared,
But kicking and rearing were all, it appeared,
He had any intention of doing.

Says Peter, says he, "We are getting on slow,
While one end is up, t'other sticks to the ground,
But I'm thinking a method to match him I know,
We 'll let, for an instant, both tail and ear go,
And
spur him at once all around."

So said so done-all hands were a spurring,
And the ass he did alter his mind-
For off went he, like a partridge whirring,
And got to the wedding while all were a stirring,
But-left his load behind.

REFLECTIONS.

“Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

To those who are awake-for there are those
Who sleep--and whose repose is so profound
The vapours of this world have so obscured
Their vision of futurity, and thrown
Such midnight darkness o'er the realm of thought,
They scarce will waken, till the thrilling peal
Of the last trumpet, tells that time 's no more.

To those who are awake, and who have weighed
The worth of temporal, and eternal things,
Who view this present transient mode of being
As but the infancy of life eternal,

The morning of a never-ending day;

And this fair world, with all its checkered scenes
Of sunshine and of shade-of joy and sorrow-
As but a school of discipline, to train
The immortal spirit for its final home:
To these, how frivolous and futile seem
The fleeting joys, the transitory cares,
The fears and wishes terminating here.
The idols of the sleepers-wealth, fame, power,