bright waters is almost immediately caught, but still is dexterously ensnared. It is no wonder that the creel is soon filled, no wonder that the heart is gratified, and the spirit rendered harmoniously buoyant. But the fly-fisher makes no unnecessary destruction, inflicts no unnecessary pain; and reserves for himself other occasions for the further enjoyment of his favourite diversion, amid the most delightful scenes, as well as the most delightful associations, and reminiscences as bright as the stream he loves.

Delightfully pleasant, too, are the bright streams, as they embroider their beauty amid the tracery of the tangled wood. Escaping from a rugged course in the purlieus of the woodland scene, resounding with a shout of joyousness, that seems to herald their approach to a spot of peace and gentleness, they linger amid the pleasant hollows, where the boughs, like an affectionate mother, are fondly bending over their favourite child to hush the least indication of a murmur. Even the bright beams of the great luminary of heaven struggle to obtain a trembling glance through the thick merry-dancing foliage. Reaching a more open portion of the sylvan temple, the

golden rod stands erect like a sentinel, and the tall campanula rings his bells as from a tower on high. Countless flowers, blooming with beauty and clothed with grace and loveliness, drooping their fragrant heads, admire their own beauty in the cloudless, unruffled mirror at their feet; whilst others, more enamoured than their compeers, even gently and tremblingly kiss the cheek of the bright stream, as it steals noiselessly past in its waveless splendour.

Nor, besides the beauty of the sylvan scene must we forget there are other spots or localities, through which the streams take their pleasant course, less destitute of beauty or of attraction, especially in some snug and obscure hollow, seldom visited by the foot of the idler or the careless observer, where the circling trees form a verdant amphitheatre, and the bright waters an expanded mirror, reflecting the mute stirless boughs around and the cloudless azure of heaven above. Nay, a little heaven seemed formed below; and all the storms and stains of earth and earthly things-its vile passions and vile propensities, and all the bad qualities which ruffle the current of human existence-are shut out and forgotten. Then, amid a scene

so fair, so lovely, so tranquil, a heavenly light breaks in upon the soul-sweet thoughts and pure sympathies hover around as on angel wings, blessing the heart with an angel's purity and the soul with an angel's radiance.

MARY.

Mary, Mary! Star of beauty!
Throw aside the flowing tress;
On thine heavenly errand's duty,
With thy matchless loveliness;
Angel mien, and sweet-lipped voice,
Come! and bid mine heart rejoice.
Call I aloud! Thou mark'st me not:
Listen. But thou art not near;

Yet thy memory charms this spot,

Come to me, appear, appear!

Vain the call, and vainer still,
Life is sad with pain and ill.

II.

Mary, Mary! Star of Splendour,
Up on high! Thine heart's pavilion

Is this heart with feelings tender,

E'en despite the heartless million;
Bless me with one word-one look-
Here, beside this waiting brook.

G

Stream, whose marge thy foot hath pressed, Charming all who met thy gaze;

Stream, whose course thine eye hath blessedBear to thee in mute amaze,

One more drop-a tear of mine—

Pearl of heart! to mix with thine.

Mary, Mary! Star of ocean!

Sun of day! and moon of night! Bends my soul in mute devotion;

Bless me with thine own sweet light; Mountains rise between us now;

Torrents rush, and rivers flow.

Love, and joy, and hope, and faith,
Mingle sweet as is their wont,
Through my life, and through my death,
In the soul's eternal font;

All take wing and fondly flee;

All are wafted, love, to thee.

THE OLD FORDS.

The Prince Palatine and himself with Major King, thinking to go over the Weser in a coach, the water being deep, and not fordable, he saved himself by the help of a willow.

HOWELL.

In the wide, diversified, and interesting range of rural life, there is scarcely a single object to be met with but what is entitled not only to attention, as marking the scene presented around in all its variety, but as awakening associations which, in many instances, extend to the early period of our history, to days, when those many improvements, that distinguish the times in which we live, were never even dreamt of, much less carried into execution-improvements which are changing the face of the country, and in many cases, the habits, the feelings, and the transactions of its inhabitants, and working out, as instanced particularly in the railway system, that wonderful application of science and skill