SELECTIONS IN VERSE.

THE ROBIN'S PETITION.

When the leaves had forsaken the trees,
And the forests were chilly and bāre ;
When the brooks were beginning to freeze,
And the snow waver'd fast through thē air ;
A robin had fled from the wood

To the snug habitation of man;
On the threshold the wânderer stood,
And thus his petition began

"The snow's coming down very fast,
Nō shelter is found on the tree;
When you hear the unpitying blast,
I pray you take pity on mē.

"The hips and the haws are all gone,
I can find neither berry nor sloe;
The ground is as härd as a stōne,
And I'm almost buried in snōw.

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My dear little nest, onċe sō neat,
Is now empty, and ragged, and tōrn ;

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On some tree should I now take my seat,
I'd be frōzen quite fast before morn.

Oh, thrōw mē a morsel of bread,
Take me in by the side of the fire;
And when I am wârmëd and fed,
I'll whistle without other hire.

"Till the sun be again shining bright, And the snow is âll gone, let me stay ; Oh, see what a terrible night!

Į shall die if you drīve mē away.

"And when you come forth in the morn, And are talking and walking around; Oh, how will your bōṣom bē tōrn,

When you see me lie dead on the ground!

"Then pity a poor little thing,

And throw me a part of your stōre; I'll fly off on the coming of spring, And never will trouble you mōre.”

THE BLIND BOY.

"Dear Mary," said the poor

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blind boy,

That little bird sings very long ;

Say, do you see him in his joy;

Is he aș pretty (pr. pritty) as his song?”

"Yes, Edward, yes," replied the maid,
I see the bîrd on yonder tree;"
The poor boy sigh'd and gently said,
"Sister, I wish that I could see.

"The flowers. you say, are very fair,

And bright green leaves are on the trees, And pretty birds are singing thereHow beautiful for one who sees !

"Yet, I the fragrant flowers can smell, And I can feel the green leaf's shāde, And I can hear the notes that swell

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From those dear bîrds that God has made.

'Sō, sister, God to mē iş kind,

Though sight to mē Hē has not given ; But tell me, are there any blind

Among the children up in heaven?"

Ere (pr. air) long, disease its hand had laid
On that dear boy, sō meek and mild:
His widow'd mother wept, and pray'd
That God would spare her sightless child.

He felt her wârm tears on his face,
And said, "Oh, never weep for mē;
I'm going to a bright, bright place,
Where God my Saviour I shall see.

"And you'll be there, kind Mary, too;
"But, mother, when you do come there,
Tell me, dear mother, that 'tis yoü :
You know I never saw you here."

Hē spōke nō mōre, but sweetly smiled,
Until the final blow was given,
When God took up that poor blind child,
And open'd first his eyes in heaven.

American.

MY MOTHER.

Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And husht me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother.

When sleep forsook mỹ ōpen eye,
Who was it sung sweet lullaby,
And rockt me that I should not cry?

My mother.

Who sat and watcht my infant head,
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

When pain and sickness māde mē crỹ,
Who gazed upon mỹ heavy eỹe,
And wept for fear that I should die?

My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty stōry tell,
Or kiss the pärt to make it well?

My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,
To love God's holy Word and Day,
And walk in Wisdom's pleasant way ?

My mother.

And can I ever cease to bē
Affectionate and kind to thee,

Who wast so very kind to me,

My Mother?

Oh, no! the thought I cannot beār ;
And, if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,

My mother.

PRIDE AND THE POPPIES.

"We little Red-caps are among the corn, Merrily dancing at early morn;