Crushed the proud tenant of an hour,
And swept away the mansion flower.

Horace Walpole.

190. THE YOUNG FLY AND THE OLD SPIDER.

On a fair morn, a spider, who had set
To catch a breakfast, his old waving net,

With curious art upon a spangled thorn;
At length, with gravely squinting, longing eye,
Near him espied a pretty, plump, young fly,

Humming her cheerful little song to morn."Good-morrow, dear Miss Fly," quoth gallant

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Grim;

"Good-morrow, Sir,"-replied Miss Fly to him. Walk in, Miss, pray, and see what I'm about." "I'm much obliged t'ye Sir," Miss Fly rejoin'd; My eyes are both so very good, I find, That I can plainly see the whole without."

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"Fine weather, Miss!".

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Yes, very, very fine,"

Quoth Miss-" prodigious fine indeed!

"But why so coy?" quoth Grim, “that you decline To put within my bower your pretty head?" ""Tis simply this,"

Quoth cautious Miss,

I fear you'd like my pretty head so well,

You'd keep it for yourself, Sir:who can tell?” "Then let me squeeze your lovely hand, my dear, And prove that all your dread is foolish, vain." "I'd rather be excused, indeed, I fear,

You really would not let it go again."

"Pooh! pooh! child, pray dismiss your idle dread; I would not hurt a hair of that sweet head

Come, then, with one kind kiss of friendship meet me."

"Oh! Sir," quoth Miss, with seeming artless tongue, I fear our salutation would be long;

So loving, too, I fear that you would eat me."

So saying, with a smile she left the rogue,
To weave more lines of death, and plan for prog.
Dr. Walcot.

191. THE WINTER'S DAY.

When raging storms deform the air,
And clouds of snow descend,
And the wide landscape, bright and fair,
In deepened shadows blend;

When biting frost rides on the wind,
Bleak from the north and east,
And wealth is at its ease reclined,
Prepared to laugh and feast;

When the poor traveller treads the plain,
All dubious of his way,

And crawls with still increasing pain,
And dreads the parting day;

When poverty, in scant attire,
Shrinks from the biting blast,
Or hovers o'er the pigmy fire,

And fears it will not last;

When the fond mother clasps her child
Still closer to her breast,

And the poor infant, frost-beguiled, [1]
Scarce feels that it is prest;—

Then let your bounteous hand extend
Its blessings to the poor,
Nor spurn the wretched, as they bend
All suppliant at your door.

192.-THE NAUTILUS.

Where southern suns and winds prevail,
And undulate the summer seas, [2]

The Nautilus expands his sail, [8]

And scuds before the fresh'ning breeze.

Oft is a little squadron seen

Of mimic ships, all rigged complete,
Fancy might think the fairy-queen
Was sailing with her elfin fleet.

With how much beauty is designed
Each channel'd bark of purest white!
With orient pearl each cabin [4] lined,
Varying with every change of light;

[1] Frost-beguiled-benumbed, and rendered insensible by the frost.

[2] The nautilus is found in the Mediterranean. [8] See No. 200, page 274.

[4] Cabin-in allusion to the chambers or compartments of the shell.

While with his little slender oars,
His silken sail, and tapering mast,
The dauntless mariner explores

The dangers of the watery waste.

Prepared, should tempests rend the sky,
From harm his fragile bark to keep,
He furls[1] his sail, his oars lays by,
And seeks his safety in the deep.

Then safe on ocean's shelly bed,

He hears the storm above him roar,
'Mid groves of coral glowing red,
And rocks o'erhung with madrepore.

So let us catch life's favouring gale,
But if fate's adverse winds be rude,
Take calmly in the adventurous sail,
And find repose in solitude.

Charlotte Smith.

193. THE WEDDING AMONG THE
FLOWERS. [2]

In a grand convocation which Flora enacted, Where the business of all her domain was transacted,

'Twas hinted, there yet remained one regulation To perfect her glorious administration.

[1] Furls-takes in.

[2] This elegant little poem, which was originally published in the year 1808, in a separate form, is reprinted here by the kind permission of the accomplished authoress now Mrs. Gilbert, of Nottingham.

-

To some, strength and masculine beauty were

given, Majestical air, and an eye meeting heaven;

Hidden virtues to many, to others perfume,

Through each variation of sweetness and bloom: "Twas therefore suggested, with Flora's compliance, To unite every charm in some splendid alliance. The royal assent to the motion was gained, 'Twas passed at three sittings, and duly ordained. 'Twas now most amusing to traverse the shade, And hear the remarks that were privately made: Such whispers, inquiries, and investigations! Such balancing merits and marshalling stations! The nobles protested they never would yield To debase their high sap with the weeds of the field;

For, indeed there was nothing so vulgar and rude, As to let every ill-bred young wild-flower intrude; Their daughters should never dishonour their houses,

By taking such rabble as these for their spouses! At length, my Lord SUNFLOWER, whom public opinion

Confessed as the pride of the blooming dominion, Avowed an affection he'd often betrayed

For sweet Lady LILY, the queen of the shade; And said, should her friends nor the public with

stand,

He would dare to solicit her elegant hand.

A whisper, like that which on fine summer eves Young zephyrs address to the frolicsome leaves, Immediately ran through the whole congregation, Expressive of pleasure, and high approbation.