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For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall,

Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all;
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word),
"O come ye in peace here, or come ye
in war,
"Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar ?”
"I long wooed your daughter, my suit ye denied―
“Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide—
"And now I am come, with this lost love of mine,
"To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
"There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
"That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."
The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up,
He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup.
She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar,—
"Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.
So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;

While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;
And the bride-maidens whispered, "Twere better by far
"To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."
One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,

When they reached the hall door, and the charger stood near ;
So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,

So light to the saddle before her he sprung!

"She is won! we are gone! over bank, bush and scaur; 1 "They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.

1 cliff.

There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan;
Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgrayes, they rode and they ran:
There was racing, and chasing, on Cannobie Lee,

But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,

Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

48. THE FAITHFUL BIRD.

THE greenhouse is my summer seat;
My shrubs, displaced from that retreat,
Enjoy'd the open air;

Two goldfinches, whose sprightly song
Had been their mutual solace long,
Lived happy prisoners there.

They sang, as blithe as finches sing,
That flutter loose on golden wing,
And frolic where they list;
Strangers to liberty, 'tis true,
But that delight they never knew,
And therefore never miss'd.

But nature works in every breast,
With force not easily suppress'd;
And Dick felt some desires,
That, after many an effort vain,
Instructed him at length to gain
A pass between his wires.

The open windows seem'd to invite
The freeman to a farewell flight;
But Tom was still confined:
And Dick, although his way was clear,
Was much too generous and sincere,
To leave his friend behind.

Scott.

H

So settling on his cage, by play,
And chirp, and kiss, he seem'd to say,
You must not live alone-

Nor would he quit that chosen stand
Till I, with slow and cautious hand,
Return'd him to his own.

O ye, who never taste the joys
Of Friendship, satisfied with noise,
Fandango, ball, and rout!

Blush, when I tell you how a bird,
A prison with a friend preferr'd
To liberty without.

Cowper.

49.- WE ARE SEVEN.

A SIMPLE CHILD, dear brother Jim,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What can it know of death?

I met a little cottage girl;

She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That cluster'd round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
Her beauty made me glad.

"Sisters and brothers, little maid,
"How many may you be?

"How many? Seven in all," she said,

And, wondering, look'd at me.

"And where are they? I pray you tell!"
She answer'd, "Seven are we ;
"And two of us at Conway dwell;

"And two are gone to sea.

"Two of us in the churchyard lie,

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"My sister and my brother;

"And in the churchyard cottage, I
"Dwell near them with my mother."

"You say that two at Conway dwell,
"And two are gone to sea;
"Yet you are seven! I pray you tell,
"Sweet maid, how this may be."
Then did the little maid reply,
"Seven boys and girls are we;
"Two of us in the churchyard lie,
"Beneath the churchyard tree."
"You run about, my little maid!
"Your limbs they are alive!
"If two are in the churchyard laid,
"Then you are only five!"

"Their graves are green, they may be seen,"

The little maid replied,

"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door,

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"And they are side by side."

My stockings there I often knit,

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My kerchief there I hem

"And there upon the ground I sit

"I sit and sing to them.

"And often after sunset, Sir,
"When it is light and fair,
"I take my little porringer,
"And eat my supper there.

"The first that died was little Jane; "In bed she moaning lay,

"Till GOD released her of her pain,
"And then she went away.

"So in the churchyard she was laid;
"And when the grass was dry,
"Together round her grave we played,

"My brother John and I.

"And when the ground was white with snow,
"And I could run and slide,

"My brother John was forced to go,
"And he lies by her side."

"How many are you then,” said I,

"If they two are in heaven?"

The little maiden did reply,

"O Master! we are seven.”

"But they are dead; those two are dead;
"Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas throwing words away, for still
The little maid would have her will,

And said, "Nay, we are seven."

Wordsworth.

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On the green banks of Shannon when Sheelah was nigh, No blithe Irish lad was so happy as I ;

No harp like my own could so cheerily play,

And wherever I went was my poor dog Tray.

When at last I was forced from my Sheelah to part,
She said, (while the sorrow was big at her heart,)
Oh! remember your Sheelah when far, far away:
And be kind, my dear Pat, to our poor dog Tray.

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