64 MY BIRTHDAY. I've been told by my friends (if they do not belie me) But vain are the hopes which are formed by a parent, I nourished within me the seeds of decline. On a sick-bed I lay, through the flesh my bones started, My grief-wasted frame to a skeleton fell; My physicians, foreboding, took leave and departed, And they wished me dead now who wished me well. Life and soul were kept in by a mother's assistance, Who struggled with faith, and prevailed 'gainst despair; Like an angel she watched o'er the lamp of existence, And never would leave while a glimmer was there. By her care I'm alive now; but what retribution Can I for a life twice bestowed thus confer? Were I to be silent, each year's revolution The chance-rooted tree that by way-sides is planted, Where no friendly hand will watch o'er its young shoots, Has less,blame if, in autumn, when produce is wanted, Enriched by small culture, it put forth small fruits. But that which with labor in hotbeds is reared, GENTLE RIVER. 65 THE RIDE. - Miss Lamb LATELY an equipage I overtook, And helped to lift it o'er a narrow brook. O happy town-bred girl, in fine chaise going, I learned, as, walking slowly by their side, The bricks were smoking, and the ground was broke, no need, I left them gathering flowers, the happiest pair GENTLE RIVER. Percy's Reliques. GENTLE river, gentle river, Lo! thy streams are stained with gore; Many a brave and noble captain Floats along thy willowed shore. 66 GENTLE RIVER. All beside thy impid waters, Lords, and dukes, and noble princes, There the hero, brave Alonzo, Lo! where yonder Don Saavedra Through their squadrons slow retires; Proud Seville, his native city, Proud Seville his worth admires. Close behind, a renegado Loudly shouts, with taunting cry, "Yield thee, yield thee, Don Saavedra Dost thou from the battle fly? "Well I know thee, haughty Christian, "Well I know thy aged parents, GENTLE RIVER. "May our prophet grant my wishes, Like a lion turns the warrior, Back he sends an angry glare; Whizzing came the Moorish javelin, Vainly whizzing, through the air. Back the hero, full of fury, Sent a deep and mortal wound; Instant sunk the renegado, Mute and lifeless, on the ground. With a thousand Moors surrounded, Cold at length the warrior lay. Near him fighting, great Alonzo Furious press the hostile squadron, Who can war with thousands wage? Where yon rock the plain o'ershadows, F 67 68 NOSE AND EYES. NOSE AND EYES.- Cowper. BETWEEN Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose ; So the Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause “In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear, And your lordship," he said, "will undoubtedly find, That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear,— Which amounts to possession time out of mind." Then holding the spectacles up to the court,- As wide as the ridge of the Nose is; in short, Again, would your lordship a moment suppose ('T is a case that has happened, and may be again, That the visage or countenance had not a Nose, Pray who would or who could wear spectacles then "On the whole it appears, and my argument shows, With a reasoning the court will never condemn, That the spectacles plainly were made for the Nose, And the Nose was as plainly intended for them.” |