another meadow, and flung itself into the sea, over the precipi tous sides of a cliff which it covered with foam. It was a happy stream; it had literally nothing to do beyond what I have said, to flow, to bubble, to look limpid, to murmur amid flowers and sweet perfumes. But the world is ever jealous of the happiness of gentle indolence. 3. One day my brother Eugene, and Savage, the clever engineer, were talking together on the banks of the stream, and to a certain degree abusing it. There," said my brother, "is a fine good-for-nothing stream for you, forsooth! winding and dawdling about, dancing in the sunshine, and revelling in the grass, instead of working and paying for the place it takes up, as an honest stream should. Could it not be made to grind coffee or pepper?"-" Or tools?" added Savage.- "Or to saw boards ?" said my brother. I trembled for the stream, and broke off the conversation, complaining that they were trampling on my forgetme-not bed. Alas! it was against these two alone that I could protect the devoted streamlet. 98 4. Before long there came into our neighborhood a man whom I noticed more than once hanging about the spot where the stream empties itself into the sea. The fellow, I plainly saw, was neither seeking for rhymes nor indulging in reveries upon its banks; he was not lulling thought to rest with the gentle murmur of its waters. My good friend," he was saying to the stream, "there you are, idling and meandering about, singing to your heart's content, while I am working and wearing myself out. I don't see why you should not help me a bit; as yet you know nothing of the work to be done, but I will soon show you. You will soon know how to set about it. You must find it dull to stay in this way, doing nothing; it would be a change for you to make files or grind knives." 5. Very soon wheels of all kinds were brought to the poor stream. From that day forward it has worked and turned a great wheel, which turns a little wheel, which turns a grindstone: it still sings, but no longer the same gently-monotonous song in its peaceful melancholy. Its song is loud and angry now; it leaps and froths and works now, it grinds knives! It still crosses the meadow, and my garden, and the next meadow; but there the man is on the watch for it, to make it work. I have done the only thing I could do for it. I have dug a new bed for it in my garden, so that it may idle longer there, and leave me a little later; but, for all that, it must go at last and grind knives. Poor stream! thou didst not sufficiently conceal thy happiness in obscurity; thou hast murmured too audibly thy gentle music. FROM THE FRENCH OF ALPHONSE KARR XLVIII. A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. 1. O, WHEN I was a tiny boy, My days and nights were full of joy, 2. A hoop was an eternal round But now those past delights I drop; And careful thoughts the string! El 3. My kite,131 how fast and far it flew ! Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew My pleasure from the sky! 'Twas papered o'er with studious themes,The tasks I wrote, my present9l dreams Will never soar so high! - FROM THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE." 1. Is not the field with lively culture green The same in all holds true, but chief in human race. 2. It was not by vile loitering in ease That Greece obtained the brighter palm of art, And o'er the nations shook her conquering dart! 3. Had unambitious mortals minded naught Rude Nature's state had been our118 state to-day; With brother-brutes the human race had grazed; None e'er had soared to fame, none honored been, none praised. 4. But should your hearts to fame unfeeling be, If right I read, you pleasure all require : Into your quickened limbs her buoyant breath! O, leaden-hearted men, to be in love with death! 5. Ah! what avail the largest gifts of Heaven," Soon swallowed in disease's sad abyss, While he whom toil has braced, or manly play, Has light as air each limb, each thought as clear as day. 6. O, who can speak the vigorous joy of health, — Yet what but high-strung health this dancing pleasaunce breeds 7. There are,166 I see, who listen to my lay, Who wretched sigh for virtue, yet despair. 140 To quit of torpid sluggishness the lair, 8. Would you, then, learn to dissipate the band 24 Resolve,- resolve! and to be men aspire. Here to mankind indulged: - control desire! Speak the commanding word, I will!—and it is done. THOMSON. L. THE TEACHINGS OF NATURE. 1. AMONG the disciples of Hillel, the wise teacher of the sons of Israël, was one named Saboth, who was averse to labor; and he gave himself up to sloth and idleness. But Hillel sorrowed over the youth, and resolved to turn him from the error of his ways. For this purpose, he led him out into the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem. There was here a stagnant pool, full of worms and insects, and covered with slimy weeds. 2. When they reached the valley, Hillel laid his staff upon the ground and said, "We will rest here on our way." But the youth wondered, and answered, “ How, master! by this loathsome pool? Dost thou not see the poisonous vapor that ascends therefrom?"-"Thou art right, my son!" answered the teacher; "this pool is like the soul of the sluggard. Who would tarry near it? 3. Hillel now led the youth to a barren field, upon which grew naught but thorns and thistles, that choked the wheat and the healthful herbs. Hillel here leaned upon his staff, and said, "Behold, the soil of this field is good, and it is able to bring forth useful and salutary fruits. But it has been forgotten and neglected. Therefore it now produces prickly thorns and thistles, and poisonous weeds; snakes and toads dwell therein. In the pool thou didst see the soul,118 here recognize the life of the sluggard." 4. Then Saboth was filled with shame and repentance, and he said, "Master, wherefore dost thou lead me into these waste and dreary places? They are the rebuking emblems of my soul and of my life." And Hillel said, "As thou wouldst not hearken to my words, I have tried whether the voice of Nature would not speak with greater power to thee." 5. Saboth then clasped his teacher's hand, and said, "O, it has penetrated my heart, and thou wilt, henceforth, see that a new life has arisen within me." And so it was. Saboth became an active and industrious youth. Hillel then led him into a fair and fertile valley, by the banks of a clear stream, which flowed in pleasant windings between fruitful trees, flowering meadows, and dark-green bushes. |