Yet, O pretty, playful friend,
Little is't for such an end

That I praise thy rareness:
Other dogs may be thy peers
Haply in those tasselled ears,
And that glossy fairness;

But of thee it shall be said,
This dog watched beside a bed,
Day and night unweary;
Watched within a curtained room,

Where no sunbeam cleft the gloom
Round the sick and dreary.

Roses gathered for a vase,
In that chamber died apace,

Beam and breeze resigning— This dog, friend-like, waited on, Knowing that when light is gone, Love remains for shining.

Other dogs, at sweep of horn
Barked along the shivering corn

Till the game was started ;-
This dog only, all the day,
Patient by a pillow lay,

Watching the sad-hearted.

Other dogs of faithful cheer
Followed close the whistle clear,
Up the woodside hieing ;—
This dog only watched in reach
Of a faintly-uttered speech,

Or a louder sighing.

To Flush, my Dog.

And if one or two quick tears
Dropped upon his glossy ears,

Or a sigh came double,
Up he sprang in eager haste,

Fawning, fondling, breathing fast,
In a tender trouble.

And this dog was satisfied

If a pale thin hand would glide

Stroking and reposing

Down his ears, and o'er his head,
With an open palm, he laid
Afterward, his nose in.

Therefore to this dog will I
Tenderly not scornfully,

Render praise and favour:
With my hand upon his head,
Is my benediction said,

Therefore, and for ever.

And because he loved me so,
Better than his kind will do

Often, man or woman,
Give I back more love again
Than dogs often have of men--
Leaning from my Human.

Mock I thee in wishing weal?-
Rather could I weep to feel

Thou art made so straightly!
Blessings needs must straighten too,

Little canst thou joy and do,

Thou who lovest greatly.

263

Yet be blessed to the height
Of all dream and all delight
Pervious to thy nature;
Only love beyond that line,
Worthily of love of thine,

Loving fellow-creature!

BARRETT.

THE MOUSE'S PETITION.

H, hear a pensive prisoner's prayer,
For liberty that sighs;

And never let thine heart be shut

Against the wretch's cries!

For here forlorn and sad I sit,

Within the wiry grate;

And tremble at the approaching morn,
Which brings impending fate.

If e'er thy breast with freedom glowed,
And spurned a tyrant's chain,
Let not thy strong oppressive force
A free-born mouse detain!

Oh, do not stain with guiltless blood

Thy hospitable hearth!

Nor triumph that thy wiles betrayed

A prize so little worth.

The scattered gleanings of a feast
My frugal meals supply:
But if thy unrelenting heart

That slender boon deny,—

The Mouse's Petition.

The cheerful light, the vital air,
Are blessings widely given;
Let Nature's commoners enjoy
The common gifts of heaven.

So may thy hospitable board

With health and peace be crowned; And every charm of heartfelt ease Beneath thy roof be found.

So when destruction works unseen,
Which man, like mice, may share,
May some kind angel clear thy path,
And break the hidden snare.

265

A. L. BARBAULD.

PART IV.-MISCELLANEOUS.

THE TINTS OF LIFE.

H, life has many a varied tint,

Has many a bright and lovely hue; Though care upon the brow may print

A sadder, darker colour too :

But hope still casts her rainbow wings

O'er many a scene of care and strife,

And gilds the hours round which she flings
The bright and varied tints of life.

Upon the sunny brow of youth

No darkling shade is ever seen;
Robed in the glorious hue of truth,

It shines one bright unchanging green;
Then manhood comes, and life assumes
A sterner shade,—a darker blue;
And lovely woman proudly blooms
In richer tints the rose's hue!

But Time outspreads his purple pall,
And age with yellow tints the scene,
And thus life's withered branches fall,

That once were blooming, fresh, and green,