tunity of ascertaining how far the notes had been digested, and for supplementing them if necessary. If difficulty be experienced in turning from the text. to the notes to look for meanings, I would recommend that the notes relating to the verses under study be copied, and the copy used with the text. The copying of the notes would not only help to impress the meanings, &c., upon the child's memory, but would tend to improve spelling. London. EDMUND ARTHUR HELPS. LOVE'S LANGUAGE. THEIR little language the children And only those who love them Can find the key to it. The words thereof and the grammar Perplex the logician's art; But the heart goes straight with the meaning, And the meaning is clear to the heart. So thou, my Love, hast a language But the world cannot guess the sweetness F. T. PALGRAVE. 5 ΙΟ THE IDIOT BOY. 'Tis eight o'clock,—a clear March night, Why bustle thus about your door, 5 ΙΟ Scarcely a soul is out of bed; But Betty's bent on her intent; There's not a house within a mile, And Betty's husband's at the wood, 15 20 25 There's none to help poor Susan Gale; 30 And Betty from the lane has fetch'd Her pony, that is mild and good, 35 Or bringing faggots from the wood. And he is all in travelling trim— 40 Him whom she loves, her Idiot Boy. And he must post without delay Across the bridge and through the dale, To bring a doctor from the town, Or she will die, old Susan Gale. 45 And Betty o'er and o'er has told 55 And Betty's most especial charge Was, "Johnny! Johnny! mind that you Come home again, whate'er befall, My Johnny, do, I pray you do." бо To this did Johnny answer make, Both with his head and with his hand, And proudly shook the bridle too; 65 And then, his words were not a few, And now that Johnny is just going, But when the pony moved his legs, 70 For joy he cannot hold the bridle, For joy his head and heels are idle, 75 He's idle all for very joy. And while the pony moves his legs, 80 His heart it was so full of glee, And while the mother at the door 85 She sees him in his travelling trim; 90 How quietly her Johnny goes. The silence of her Idiot Boy, What hopes it sends to Betty's heart! He's at the guide-post-he turns right, 95 And Betty will not then depart. Burr, burr—now Johnny's lips they burr And Johnny makes the noise he loves, 100 Away she hies to Susan Gale : And Johnny's lips they burr, burr, burr,- 105 His steed and he right well agree, IIO But then he is a horse that thinks ! And when he thinks, his pace is slack; 115 What he has got upon his back. |