O! had that warning voice prevailed,
Then might he, in maturer years,

O'er many a distant sea have sailed,

Nor "steeped a parent's couch in tears."

ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.

On the shore killdeers were trying

To surprise a worm or two— Over head the crows were flying, A dingy and discordant crew.

Peter sauntered by the river

Geese were swimming on the tide,

"Ho!" said Peter, "that's a clever, Cool, and easy way to ride."

In the boat he got, to paddle,
Leaning careless o'er the prow-
"Now," said Peter, "neighbour Waddle,
I'm as great a goose as thou."

The

geese would often dip for sweeter Grass, that on the bottom grew— "I can dip, I guess," said Peter,

"Head and ears, as well as you.”

Down he dipped, but in the endeavour,

Gave the boat a luckless turn, And (what he contemplated never,)

Over went his whole concern.

Ah! thought a goose who watched the motion, (Perhaps) with no unwilling eyes—

"Thou art over, Peter, I've a notion, But doubt thy being over wise."

FOR A WINTER SCENE ON A FARM.

Winter rules, in turn, the year,
White with snow the fields appear,
In his barn, the farmer now

Views, well pleased, his loaded mow,
And, sheltered from the stormy gale,
Plies the far resounding flail ;
While beside the door the kine

On the fragrant clover dine,
Or on beds of straw recline.

Farther off the feathered race,
Seek their 'customed feeding place,
And await their dole of grain,-
Do not let them wait in vain.

Thou 'rt a favoured child of Heaven,
But not exclusively its care;

Let the bounty God has given
His inferior creatures share.

But yonder idlers, in the sleigh,

Had better fall to honest labour,
Than tire their horses, waste a day,
And hinder some industrious neighbour.

FOR AN AUTUMNAL SCENE.

Where cultured ridges wide extend,
The careful farmer strews the grain,
In humble hope that Heaven may send
The early and the latter rain.

That, favoured thus, another year
May many a ripened ear supply
For those dear young ones, sporting near
With buoyant kite ascending high.

And to those dear ones, be it known,
Though kites, at seasons, may be flown,
Yet work must take its turn-the day
Must not be wasted all in play.

And let the farmer, too, reflect

That there are other seeds to scatter
In these young minds-and not neglect,
For transient things, this weightier matter.

The seeds of knowledge-love of truth,
And virtuous fame, implanted there,
And nurtured in the spring of youth,
May haply fruit immortal bear.

FOR A SHIP UNDER FULL SAIL.

From the rude plank, on which adventurous man
First dared the waters, in pursuit of food,
Or haply to approach some neighbouring isle,
Whose spicy groves, and sweet retiring vales,
Lay, flower-enameled, on the smiling sea-
From that rude plank to this majestic ship,
How great the change! how wond'rous an effect,
Produced by human industry and skill!

A tie connecting the remotest shores

Of the green earth—a bridge around the world! Behold! how gracefully she sits-expanding Her canvass pinions to the swelling breeze!

But should the storm awake, and the vexed waters,

Roused into rage, in fearful mountains rise,
Onward she dashes through the wild commotion;
Yet, mid this elemental war, obeys

The slightest intimation of her helm,—
An object scarcely noticed, yet controlling
The varied movements of the vast machine.

So let "a word* behind thee" govern thine,
Through all the countless incidents of life,
Whenever conscience whispers in thy ear
"This is the way”—although a world should rise
In opposition-let that way be thine.

* And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, "this is the way, walk ye in it," when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah, ch. xxx, v. 21.