He had caught but a glimpse, but the beam was too bright, Mercy shaded his sight with death's veil from the light, "I've seen yon fair Mon, no more I can say, And a smile too I've seen in His e'e; Now dinna ye speak, leave poor Yeddie alone, "If ye kenned how I love Him!" said the idiot boy, "At His table you'd let my heart rest!" So the Master came down when the night wind hushed, And took the poor lad to His breast. Poor weakling! no more thou shalt whisper thy grief, Poor heart, so forsaken, distracted, forlorn, Oh, sweet light of love which could chase such a night, was Though the cottage was mean and the windows were closed, Through its refts Thy sweet beauty could shine, And build in the soul of a poor idiot boy A throne and a temple divine. Oh, sweet is the thought that the morning's pale dew, Can reflect by the fingers of light gently touched, And an idiot's face, though forsaken and blank, O loft of poor Yeddie! so rich yet so poor, The birth-place of heaven's own King; O chamber of peace! where such sweet love was born, So kingly, that even an idiot's dark soul, O loft of poor Yeddie! the bridegroom's own face In raiment all spotless and bright. Oh, how bright Yeddie's face! as he looked at his King; As love gently kissed him and gave him the ring, Oh, kingly grace which stoops to bless, The wisdom of the world here fails, That glory cannot see Which Christ alone reveals to those O come Philosophy, and sit At this poor idiot's feet; And learn how wisdom's purest light The eye of faith can greet; The intellect with eagle eye May proudly soar above; The light of pardon, rest, and peace, Dawns on the eye of LOVE.-W. POOLE BALFERN. The Great Fire of London. HE year 1665 was a melancholy one for the metropolis of our country. A disease called the Plague was the cause of the death of thousands. It is not surprising that there should have been so dire a calamity. We read that "the streets were very foul, and full of pits and ditches, very noisome, and perilous, as well for all the king's subjects on horseback as on foot." There has been a great improvement since those days, but we are sure that cholera, small-pox, and other diseases would be much diminished, if, in the narrow streets, lanes, alleys, and courts, as well as in low, dirty, and crowded lodging-houses, more attention were paid to cleanliness and ventilation. The Great Fire took place the year after the Great Plague. While this was a terrible calamity, it did much in clearing London of many sources of contagious diseases. Not only were thirteen thousand houses burnt, but St. Paul's Cathedral, and a large number of churches and public buildings were destroyed. Such a fire would be impossible now, on account of the improved means of arresting and extinguishing fires. During the last century there has been marked advancement in arts, sciences, and general education. And we hope the present youthful generation may far surpass its predecessors, in all that it is true, and noble, and good. We conclude our article by quoting some remarks of Samuel Pepys, which appeared in an interesting article on his Diary in our Large Magazine for March. "September 2nd, 1666, Lord's day. Jane called us up about three in the morning, to tell us of a Great Fire they saw in the City. *We saw the fire as one entire arch of fire from this to the other side of the bridge. *** It made me weep ** to see it. The churches, houses, and all on fire and flaming at once; and a horrid noise the flames made, and the cracking of houses at their ruine." T. B. "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you." SAY now, Johnny, come along o' me an' Jim. We're agoin' to knock over old Sal Casey's apple-stand, 'cause her wouldn't give us no toffy this mornin'. Don't set a whimperin' on them steps: but jest come along o' us." "No, no, Pat! I a'n't agoin' with you an' Jim no more," answered Johnny Lane, the younger of the three ragged, dirty boys grouped round a rickety flight of old wooden steps in the neighbourhood of the Five Points. "You fellers does things what a'n't right; an' though I've done 'em with yer afore, I don't mean to agin. I don't believe my mother, what's dead an' gone to heaven, would 'a liked to have me do such mean things as knockin' over old Sal's stand; an' I a'n't agoin' to, I'm bound to try to get out o' the Pints, an' be a better boy if I can." "Oho! Were turnin' mighty pious an' good all ov a sudden- we are. Well, come along, Jim; we can have our fun, anyhow;" and, with a rude, jeering laugh, the two large boys ran off. "Johnny, my lad," said a rough though kindly voice. Johnny looked up. Before him stood another boy of fifteen or so (his arm full of newspapers) whom he had known a good while, but had not seen for many months. "Why, is that you, Peter Strong?" cried Johnny, jump |