At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back 7 By9 Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris: "Stay, spur! As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Loos and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; ❝ intelligence, quick brightness of wit. 7 askance, sideways. 8 spume-flakes, foam-flakes. The broad sun, above, laughed a pitiless laugh, 'Neath our foot broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a Dom-tower10 sprang white, And "Gallop," cried Joris, " for Aix is in sight!" "How they'll greet us!" and, all in a moment, his roan11 Then I cast my loose buff-coat, each holster let fall, 13 Called my Roland his pet name, my horse without peer ;14 Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. And all I remember is friends flocking round As I sate with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, CHARLES MACKAY.-Born, 1812; still alive. Charles Mackay, a Scotchman by birth, is the author of many excellent songs and verses. TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. IF Fortune with a smiling face Strew roses on our way, When shall we stoop to pick them up? To-day, my friend, to-day. But should she frown with face of care, And talk of coming sorrow, When shall we grieve, if grieve we must ?— If those who've wronged us own their fault, When shall we listen and forgive?— And warmth from memory borrow, If those to whom we owe a debt, To-day, my friend, to-day. But if our debtor fail our hope, And plead his ruin thorough, When shall we weigh his breach of faith?— For virtuous acts and harmless joys We've always time to welcome them Come far too soon, if they appear CHARLES KINGSLEY.-Born, 1819; Died, 1875. The Rev. Charles Kingsley, one of the manliest and most vigorous writers of this generation, was esteemed not less for his personal qualities than for his fine abilities. His writings are mostly in the form of novels; but these are always full of the wisest and kindliest teaching. He was for a time professor of Modern History at Cambridge. His poems are vigorous and sometimes touching, but it is in his prose writings he shows to the best advantage. THE LAST BUCCANEER.1 OH, England is a pleasant place for them that's rich and high, But England is a cruel place for such poor folks as I; The Buccaneers were half pirates, half privateers, who fought Spain as they best could, in Elizabeth's time, on the Spanish main-by turns sacking a town or capturing a galleon. 2 Isle of Avès, a small West India Island off the north of 3 Spanish main. The West In- There were forty craft in Avès that were both swift and stout, All furnished well with small arms and cannons round about; And a thousand men in Avès made laws so fair and free To choose their valiant captains and obey them loyally. Thence we sailed against the Spaniard, with his hoards of plate and gold, Which he wrung with cruel tortures from Indian folk of old ;* Likewise the merchant captains, with hearts as hard as stone, Who flog men, and keel-hauls them, and starve them to the bone. Oh, the palms grew high in Avès, and fruit that shone like gold, And the colibris and parrots, they were gorgeous to behold; Oh, sweet it was in Avès to hear the landward breeze, But Scripture saith, an ending to all fine things must be; So the king's ships sailed on Avès, and quite put down were we. 4 In Mexico, Peru, and the West India Islands. 5 keel haul, draw them under the ship and up at the opposite side, nearly drowning them. 6 7 colibris, a kind of West Indian bird. a net, a hammock hung to lie in. 8 King James I. |