His affectionate child lived just long enough to close his eyes, and than she lay down at his side, shut her own, and her meek spirit followed his, as we believe, to heaven. They were buried together on one day. I have seen their graves. This is a true story.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

THE FROST.

THE Frost look'd forth, one still clear night,
And whisper'd, "Now, I shall be out of sight;
So through the valley and over the height,
In silence I'll take my way;

I will not go on like that blustering train,
The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain,
Who make so much bustle and noise in vain ;—
But I'll be as busy as they."

Then he flew to the mountain, and powder'd its crest;

He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dress'd In diamond beads-and over the breast

Of the quivering lake he spread

A coat of mail, that it need not fear
The downward point of many a spear
That he hung on its margin, far and near,
Where a rock could rear its head.

He went to the windows of those who slept,
And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;

Wherever he breath'd, wherever he stept,

By the light of the moon were seen Most beautiful things;-there were flowers and trees;

There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees; There were cities with temples and towers, and these

All pictured in silver sheen!

But he did one thing that was hardly fair;
He peep'd in the cupboard and finding there
That all had forgotten for him to prepare-
"Now just to set them a thinking,

I'll bite this basket of fruit," said he,
"This costly pitcher I'll burst in three,
And the glass of water they've left for me
Shall tchick to tell them I'm drinking."

THE GRAVE-YARD.

"WHERE have you been, my Emma dear? You look quite pale and cold:

The weather is so soft and clear

That e'en the snow seems tip'd with gold."

"I went into the grave-yard, Ma,

To please our little Jane:

The gate was open'd very far
As we came down the lane.”

"It is a solemn place, my dear,
For our last home design'd;

Did you have any foolish fear,
That you ran home so wild ?"

"I know it is a solemn place,
And so I said to Jane;

But she would o'er the hillocks run,
Then slide and slide again.

"She said, Come, Emma, do, and play,
And down the smooth hills slide,
See, when I tuck my clothes away,
How nice and quick I glide!'

"Don't slide,' I said, 'upon a grave; All under here are dead!'

'Well, Emma, were they naughty, say? Or will they hear ?' she said.

666

"I'll go just like the little mouse,
So still, they cannot hear:-
Show me the dead men's narrow house,
Ma said 'twas over here.'

"I pointed to a stone,—she said,
"This is no house, I'm sure,

It is no higher than my head,
No window has, or door.

“What is it to be dead, do

Say why you look so sad?

say?

Are angels dead that fly away,
And are not angels glad?'

"I could not make her understand
A word I said of death:-

A moment by me she would stand
And softly draw her breath,

"Then bound away, and laughing say,
'In Heaven they cannot hear-
You know it is a great long way;
Come play, and do not fear.'

"Mother-do tell her not to play
So rudely o'er the dead:”—
"I will, my love, some future day,
When she knows what is said."

"It is not easy, Emma, dear,
For a child to understand:-
Their thoughts are never very clear,
Of death and the shadow-land."

"Why did I feel so sad when there,
'Tis a very sunny day?

And the blue sky is bright and fair,
But I could not laugh and play."

"The thoughts of death, my child, will come, E'en o'er the brightest scene:—

O'er your young heart death cast a gloom,
Like cloud o'er a sunny green.

"The Bible says, 'If God we love,

And in his law delight:—

The grave a heavenly gate will prove,
And not an endless night!'

"Let us be wise, my Emma, dear,

Since death is sure to come :

And seek the path that's bright and clear,
Though through the narrow tomb!"

MRS. L. LARNFD.

THE CHILD AND THE STARS.

You little twinkling stars, that shine
Above my head so high,

If I had but a pair of wings
I'd join you in the sky.

I am not happy lying here,

With neither book nor toy;
For I am sent to bed, because
I've been a naughty boy.

If you will listen, little stars,
I'll tell you all I did :
I only said I would not do

The thing that I was bid!

I'm six years old this very day,
And I can write and read,

And not to have my own way yet
very hard indeed.

Is