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A masterpiece soon makes its way to light.

The folk ran up and screamed, so soon as Stephen met their sight:

"Ah, Heavens! Ah, there he is! Yes, yes, 'tis he!

O happy artist! happy wife!

Look at the laughing features! Only see

The open mouth, that seems as if 'twould speak
I never saw before in all my life

Such nature, no, I vow, there could not be
A truer likeness; so he looked to me,
When he stood godfather last week."

They brought the wooden spouse,

That now alone the widow's heart could cheer,
Up to the second story of the house

Where he and she had dwelt one blessed year.
There in her chamber, having turned the key,
She shut herself with him, and sought relief
And comfort in the midst of bitter grief,
And held herself as bound, if she would be
Forever worthy of his memory,

To weep away the remnant of her life.
What more could one desire of a wife?

So sat Dorinda many weeks, heart-broken,
And had not, my informant said,

In all that time to living creature spoken,
Except her house-dog and her serving-maid.
And this, after so many weeks of woe,
Was the first day that she had dared to glance
Out of her window; and to-day, by chance,

Just as she looked, a stranger stood below.
Up in a twinkling came the house-maid running,
And said, with look of sweetest, half-hid cunning,
'Madam, a gentleman would speak with you,
A lovely gentleman as one would wish to view,
Almost as lovely as your blessed one;

He has some business with you must be done,-
Business, he said, he could not trust with me."
"Must just make up some story then," said she,
"I cannot leave, one moment, my dear man;
In short, go down and do the best you can;
Tell him I'm sick with sorrow; for, O me!
It were no wonder-"

"Madam 'twill not do;
He has already had a glimpse of you,
Up at your window as he stood below!
You must come down; now do, I pray;
The stranger will not thus be sent away,
He's something weighty to impart I know.
I should think, madam, you might go."

A moment the young widow stands perplexed,
Fluttering 'twixt memory and hope; the next
Embracing, with a sudden glow,

The image that so long had soothed her woe.
She lets the stranger in. Who can it be?
A suitor? Ask the maid: already she
Is listening at the key-hole; but her ear
Only Dorinda's plaintive tone can hear.
The afternoon slips by. What can it mean?
The stranger goes not yet, has not been seen
To leave the house. Perhaps he makes request-
Unheard-of boldness!-to remain, a guest.

Dorinda comes at length, and, sooth to say, alone.-
Where is the image, her dear, sad delight ?——
"Maid," she begins, "say, what shall now be done?
The gentleman will be my guest to-night.

Go instantly, and boil the pot of fish."

66

Yes, madam, yes, with pleasure, as you wish."

Dorinda goes back to her room again.

The maid ransacks the house to find a stick
Of wood to make a fire beneath the pot,-in vain.
She cannot find a single one; then quick

She calls Dorinda out, in agony.

66

Ah, madam, hear the solemn truth," says she;

"There's not a stick of fish-wood in the house. Suppose I take that image down and split it? That Is good hard wood, and to our purpose pat."

do!

"The image? No, indeed!-But-well-yes,
What need you have been making all this touse?"
"But, ma'am, the image is too much for me;
I cannot lift it all alone, you see;-

'Twould go out of the window easily."

"A lucky thought! and that will split it for you,
The gentleman in future lives with me;
I may no longer nurse this misery."

too.

Up went the sash, and out the blessed Stephen flew.

" SERIES,

"100 CHOICE SELECTIONS"

CONTAINING

THE LATEST AND BEST good things for Declamation, Recitation, Parlor Reading, &c., in Poetry and Prose, being a happy blending of BRILLIANT ORATORY, THRILLING SENTIMENT, PATHETIC GEMS, and SPARKLING HUMOR. Adapted to the use of

LYCEUMS, TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES, EXHIBITION-ROOMS, CHURCH SOCIABLES, ANNIVERSARIES, GRANGES, SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENTS, WINTER GATHERINGS AND FAMILY FIRESIDES.

The various numbers of this very popular Series are meeting with unprecedented success, having fairly won the public heart;-and every additional issue is hailed with delight. We venture the assertion that never before has the same variety of choice poetry and prose, grave and humorous, eloquent and sentimental, impassioned and matter-of-fact, been embraced within the space of 180 pages. Every Number complete in itself. Nothing repeated.

Price, per Number, Pamphlet edition, 30 cents. Cloth-bound, 75 cents.

Mailed free on receipt of price. Send for a sample, and be convinced of their superior merit. A complete List of Contents of all the Numbers will be sent free on application.

A COMPLETE LIST OF CONTENTS

EMBRACED IN THE ENTIRE SERIES OF

ONE HUNDRED CHOICE SELECTIONS, (Nos. 1 to 16 inclusive,)

WILL BE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

THE SPEAKER'S GARLAND

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

Vol. I contains "100 Choice Selections," Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. Vol. II contains “100 Choice Selections," Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8. Vol. III contains "100 Choice Selections," Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12. Vol. IV contains "100 Choice Selections," Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16.

Each Volume of THE SPEAKER'S GARLAND combines Four Numbers of the "100 CHOICE SELECTIONS" Series in one book, arranged under a general heading, and an alphabetical index, printed on beautifully toned paper, and furnished in elegant binding;-containing over 700 pages;-making truly a "Garland" of imperishable flowers, alike useful and ornamental in every Perlor, Reading Club, Library or Forum.

Price, per Volume, Green and Gold, $2.00.

P. GARRETT & CO., Publishers,

For sale by all

708 Chestant St., Philadelphia. Booksellers and Newsdealers. and 116 E. Randolph St., Chicago,

Contents of No. 1.

Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Address to the Soldiers.

Have been received with a degree of favor unequalled by any similar works of the kind published; and, were it necessary, hundreds of testimonials might be given, from leading Magazines, Instructors, Students, and Literary Men throughout the country; but a glance at the list of contents, is the only recommendation needed, to bespeak the favor of every Intelligent reader. Price of each number, pamphlet edition, 30 cts.; cloth bound, 75 cts

E. Pluribus Unum.
The Burning Prairie.
Joan of Arc.

Praying for Rain.
Ring the Bell Softly.
The Polish Boy.

Contents of No. 3.

Ideas the Life of a People.
Romance of Nick Van Stann
Rum's Maniac.
My Beautiful Child.
From a Sermon on the Death
of Abraham Lincoln.
New House that Jack Built.
Guard thine Action.
The Angels of Buena Vista.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural.
Tim Tuff.

Dead in the Street.
Mother and Poet.
The Bells of Shandon.
Sam Weller's Valentine.
The Loved and Lost.
The Last Journey.

The Drawbridge Keeper.
Grave of Charles Dickens.
Little Nell's Funeral.

Ward at Shakspeare's Tomb
The Irish woman's Letter.
Not on the Battle-Field,
Jack Horner.
Meagher's Defence.
The Fate of Virginia.
Through Death to Life.
Footsteps on the Other Side.
Caudle a Mason.
The Old Clock on the Stairs.
If we Knew.
The Ballot Box.
The Razor Seller.
Ginevra.

The Burial of Moses.
Grattan's Reply to Corry.
The Collegian and Porter.
The Changed Cross.
Brutus on Cæsar's Death.
Antony to the Romans.

Regulus to the Roman Senate Grizzly Grumbler's Advice.

Dow's Flat.

Little Bennie.

Which Shall it Be?

Lochinvar's Ride.

The Young Gray Head.
The Parting Hour.
Adams and Jefferson.

A Frenchman's Flea Powder

Billings on "The District In the Other World.

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Very Dark.

The Fireman.
Hezekiah Bedott.

Brutus on Lucretia's Death,
The Beautiful Snow.

The Soldier's Reprieve.
The Comet.
Twenty Years Ago.
Going Out and Coming In.,
The Leper.

Pleading Extraordinary.'
Under the Lamplight.
The Sailor's Funeral.
Foes United in Death.
The Jester Condemned.
Ileaven.

Eugene Aram's Dream.
Shylock to Antonio,
Josh Billings on "Gongs."
Out in the Streets.
Oration against Catiline.
Catiline's Defianco.

His Eye was Stern and Wild.
Searching for the Slain.
The Baron's Last Banquet.
Death of Little Jo.
Nongtongpaw.

The Ruined Merchant.'
The Death-Bed.
Abou Ben Adhem.
A Husband's Cooking.
Ring Out, Wild Bells,
Magdalena.

Last Hours of Webster.
Heathen Chinee.

Poor Voter on Election Day.
Execution of Joan of Arc.
Icarus.

D, Green's Flying Machine.

Contents of No. 4.

The Star-Spangled Banner. | God.
The Bright Side.

Reply of Pitt to Walpole.
The Well of St. Keyne.
Farm-Yard Song.

Hallowed Ground.

Death of Morris.

Jim.

Gates Ajar.

How the Gates came Ajar.
Arnold Winkelreid.

Mark Twain meets Ward.
Over the Hill to the Poor-
House.

The Mother and her Child.
Triumph of Faith.
Appeal to the "Sextant."
The Creeds of the Bells.
The Bridal Feast.

Verres Denounced.

The Boys.

The Angel Ferry

Civil War.

The Battle.

Seeds.

St. Pierre to Ferrardo.

Which Could I Spare.
Mrs. Caudle wants Clothing.
Song of the Drunkard,
The Maniac.

The Indian Chief's Speech.
Early Rising.
The Knight's Toast.
Lady Clare.

Loss of the Arctic.
The Irish Picket.
At the Morgue.
Battle of Fontenoy.
"Irish Brigade" at Fontenoy
Widow Bedott's Poetry.
Caoch the Piper.
Old Times and New.
Invective against Flood.
Mormon Widower's Lament
Man's Mission,

The Bayonet Charge.
Drunkards not all Brutes.
Bachelor's Hall.
Nearer Home.

Bombastic Appeal to a Jury. Pictures of Memory.

Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Certin'.

King William Thanks God.
Death of Little Paul.

In Memory of Dickens.
Monsieur Tonson.

Call.

The Singer.
Twain's "European Guides"
The Children.
Clarence's Dream.
The Death of Hamilton.*
A Swell's Soliloquy.
Ministering Angels.
The Miser fitly Punished.
Cæsar Passing the Rubicon.

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