For well the boy-god knew that he
Was far too potent, ere to be
Depos'd and exil'd quietly

From his belov'd dominion;
And sturdily the urchin swore
He ne'er to leave the British shore,
Would move a single pinion.

The saints at this were sadly vex'd,
And much their holy brains perplex'd,
To bring the boy to reason;

And, when they found him bent to stay,
They built up convent walls straightway,
And put poor Love in prison.

But Cupid, though a captive made,
Soon met, within a convent shade,
New subjects in profusion :
Albeit, he found his pagan name
Was heard by pious maid and dame
With horror and confusion.

For all were there demure and coy,
And deem'd a rebel heathen boy
A most unsaintly creature;
But Cupid found a way, with ease,
His slyest vot'ries' tastes to please,
And yet not change a feature.

For, by his brightest dart, the elf
Affirm'd he'd turn a saint himself,
To make their scruples lighter;
So gravely hid his dimpled smiles,
His wreathed locks, and playful wiles,
Beneath a bishop's mitre.

Then Christians rear'd the boy a shrine,
And youths invok'd St. Valentine
To bless their annual passion;
And maidens still his name revere,
And, smiling, hail his day each year-
A day to village lovers dear,

Though saints are out of fashion.

Monthly Magazine,

TO A LADY READING A VALENTINE.
66
BY THE AUTHOR OF HOBOMOK."
What are thy thoughts, thou placid one?
Thy glance is mild as evening sun-
Holy and bright the lucid beam,
As love and hope were in thy dream.
Calm are thy feelings-still and deep
As seraph's joy or infant's sleep:
Not thine the British Sappho's eye,
Like love's volcano blazing high—
Flush'd cheek, and passion-stricken brow,
Are not for one so pure as thou:

Thou'rt not a thing all smiles and tears,
Wasting thy soul in hopes and fears;
Yet thou, sweet maiden, canst not hide
Affection's deep and noiseless tide.
A sadden'd hue is on thy cheek,
Thy thoughtful look is still and meek;
And well I know that young love flings
A shadow from his purple wings.
'Tis sad to think life's sun-light gleam
May leave thee, like a morning dream:-
Can brows so gentle and so fair
Be early mark'd by with'ring care?
Ah! listen to the plaintive tone
O'er all Felicia's music thrown!
Heaven spare thee the thrilling sigh,
Which wakes her harp to melody!
There's subtle power in every line
Of that bewitching Valentine ;
If once within the throbbing heart,
Nor time, nor change bids it depart;
And seldom it's a quiet guest;
In woman's fond devoted breast;
New thoughts may fire the weary brain,
But hearts once chill'd ne'er warm again.

Yet, lady, trust the dang'rous boy!
His smiles are full of light and joy;
And e'en his most envenom'd dart
Is better than a vacant heart.

14.-SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.

This is the second Sunday before Lent, so called as being about sixty-days previous to Easter; before which it is the eighth Sunday.

21.-QUINQUAGESIMA, or SHROVE SUNDAY.

This is called Quinquagesima, from its being about the fiftieth day before Easter; it is also the seventh Sunday before Easter; and the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday.

23.-SHROVE TUESDAY.

This is the first Tuesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, and is so called from the Saxon shrive; literally, to confess. On this day, in Catholic times, every person in this country were obliged to confess their sins to the priest in their parish church; and that it should be observed, the great bell in every parish was rung at ten o'clock.

It is also called Pancake-day. In the year 1446, Simon Eyre, a Shoe-maker, and Lord Mayor of London, ordered, that on the ringing of a bell, on this day, in every parish in the city, all apprentices should leave work and shut up their shops, to feast upon puddings, pies, and pancakes; which was called a pancake feast.

Cock-fighting was formerly a very common practice on this day throughout the country; this cruel sport is now, however, nearly extinct. In the Obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1789, is the following: "Died, April 4th, at Tottenham, John Ardesoif, Esq., a young man of large fortune. Mr. Ardesoif was very fond of cock-fighting; and had a favourite cock, on which he had won many profitable matches. The last bet he made on this cock was lost; which so enraged him, that he had the bird tied to a spit and roasted alive before a large fire. The screams of the miserable animal were so affecting, that some gentlemen present attempted to interfere; which so enraged Mr. A., that he seized a poker and with most furious vehemence, declared he would kill the first man who interposed. But in the midst of his passionate observations, he fell dead upon the spot."

24.-ST. MATTHIAS.

After the crucifixion, and the death of the traitor Judas, Peter, in the midst of the disciples, they being in number about 120, proposed the election of an apostle in his stead, " and they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabus, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias:" and they prayed, to be directed in their choice," and they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."-Acts i. 23, 26. He was qualified for the apostleship, by having been a constant attendant upon our Saviour all the time of his ministry. He is supposed to have been one of the seventy disciples. After our Lord's resurrection, he preached the gospel first in Judea, and afterwards in Ethiopia, where he suffered martyrdom.

24.-ASH WEDNESDAY AND FIRST DAY OF LENT.

So called because in the Romish church the priest blesses ashes on this day, and puts them upon the heads of the people. These ashes are made of the branches of brushwood or palms, consecrated the year before, and cleaned, dried and sifted. After the priest has absolved the people, he sprinkles these ashes upon them for the redemption of their sins.

It is also the first day of Lent; a solemn time of fasting in the Christian church. Those of the Latin church, and some of the Protestant communion maintain, that it was always a fast of forty days, and, as such, of apostolical institution, and that it was variously observed in different churches, and grew by degrees from a fast of forty hours to a fast of forty days. This is the opinion of Bishop Taylor, Morton, De Moulin, Daille and others.

Mr. Fosbroke observes, that ladies wore friar's girdles in Lent. He quotes from Camden's Remains, that Sir Thomas More, finding his lady

scolding her servants during Lent, endeavoured to restrain her. "Tush, tush, my lord," said she, "look, here is one step so heavenward," showing him a friar's girdle. "I fear me," said he, " that one step, will not bring you up one step higher." There are various instances of belief in the virtues of garments that had been worn by monks and friars, some of them almost surpassing belief.

28.-QUADRAGESIMA SUNDAY.

So called from the Quadragesimal, or forty days' fast. It is also the first Sunday in Lent.

28.-1828.-BRUNSWICK THEATRE DESTROYED. This Theatre, in Well Street, Wellclose Square, stood on the site of the Royalty Theatre, first built by the unfortunate John Palmer, who died on the Liverpool stage, while performing The Stranger. It had only been opened two days, when it fell, burying in its ruins a vast number of performers and others, out of which thirteen lost their lives. The annexed view is worthy preservation from its being an accurate representation of the ruins, immediately after the accident.