Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretch'd in never ending line Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they A poet could not but be gay In such a jocund company! I gazed and gazed, but little thought For oft, when on my couch I lie, Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. PROUD MAISIE PROUD Maisie is in the wood, Walking so early; Sweet Robin sits on the bush Singing so rarely. "Tell me, thou bonny bird, When shall I marry me?" "When six braw1 gentlemen Kirkward 2 shall carry ye. "Who makes the bridal bed, Birdie, say truly?" "The gray-headed sexton That delves the grave duly. "The glow-worm o'er grave and stone Shall light thee steady; Welcome, proud lady." SIR WALTER SCOTT. 1 braw: fine. 2 kirkward: to the church. ABOU BEN ADHEM ABOU BEN ADHEM (may his tribe increase!) Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold; And to the presence in the room he said, "What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then, The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed; And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. LEIGH HUNT. WHEN I was a beggarly boy, When I could not sleep for the cold, Since then I have toiled day and night, Take, Fortune, whatever you choose, JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. THE LEGEND OF BISHOP HATTO THE summer and autumn had been so wet, Every day the starving poor Crowded round Bishop Hatto's door; At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day Rejoiced such tidings good to hear, The poor folk flocked from far and near; Then, when he saw it could hold no more, He set fire to the barn and burned them all. |