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“My eyes are dim with childish tears,
My heart is idly stirred,

For the same sound is in my ears
Which in those days I heard.

"Thus fares it still in our decay :
And yet the wiser mind
Mourns less for what age takes away
Than what it leaves behind.

"The blackbird amid leafy trees, The lark above the hill,

Let loose their carols when they please, Are quiet when they will.

"With Nature never do they wage
A foolish strife; they see

A happy youth, and their old age
Is beautiful and free.

"But we are pressed by heavy laws;
And often, glad no more,

We wear a face of joy, because
We have been glad of yore.

"If there be one who need bemoan

His kindred laid in earth,

The household hearts that were his own, It is the man of mirth.

"My days, my friend, are almost gone, My life has been approved,

And many love me ; but by none

Am I enough beloved."

"Now both himself and me he wrongs,

The man who thus complains!

I live and sing my idle songs

Upon these happy plains.

"And, Matthew, for thy children dead I'll be a son to thee !"

At this he grasped my hand, and said, "Alas! that cannot be."

We rose up from the fountain-side ;
And down the smooth descent
Of the green sheep-track did we glide,
And through the wood we went.

And, ere we came to Leonard's rock,
He sang those witty rhymes
About the crazy old church-clock,
And the bewildered chimes.

WORDSWORTH.

TWO SCENES FROM THE CIVIL WAR.

In the course of the Civil War, in the reign of Charles I., fortune often changed sides. The following narrative affords an illustration of the vicissitudes of fortune, and of the duty and advantage of moderation in the hour of triumph.

FIRST SCENE.

It was two hours past midnight, and yet the inhabitants of a small lonely dwelling on the edge of a large piece of common-ground, lying about ten miles from Farringdon House, were all awake, and up, and with anxious eyes gazing from the small long windows into the darkness that hung over the world. Every now and then bright red flashes, sudden and sharp, broke upon the night, followed by a distant report as quick and transitory. No one spoke in that lone house while the flashes continued. At length the sudden bursts of light entirely ceased; the reports were no longer heard; and then the mother, turning to her daughter, said in a low voice, "It is over; God's will is wrought by this time.”

The daughter said nothing; but clasping her fair hands together, raised her eyes towards the dark heavens, while her full sweet lips moved silently, offering up a petition to that never-closed ear which hears the still voice of the heart's thoughts as plainly as the loudest-tongued appeal.

In a moment after, the clattering sound of horses' feet was heard coming quickly down the road. At first it was faint and distant-the dull tramp of several fleet steeds galloping over moist ground; but soon it came nearer and nearer-left the turf of the common, clanged over the firm and stony road, came close to the house, passed it—and died away in the distance.

"They are the rebels ! they are the rebels fleeing for life!" exclaimed the daughter in a glad tone, as they darted past the house; "I see their great boots, and their morions without crest or plume!"

"But they may be pursuing those who went before,” said her mother.

"No, no! they are fleeing, in good sooth!" replied the young lady, "for ever and anon they turn their heads to look behind, and still urge their horses faster at each look. And now, pray God that victory may not cost us dear. I would that my brother were come back, and Henry Lisle." Fie, Margaret, fie!" said her mother; "give God undivided thanks; for if my son and your lover be both left upon the field of battle, we ought still to feel that their lives were well bestowed to win a victory for their royal master."

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In a moment after a single horseman approached, and just as he came opposite the door his horse stumbled, throwing him with fearful violence on his head upon the ground. A deep groan was at first the only sound; but the moment after the horse, by a long wild neigh, seemed at once to express its sorrow and to claim assistance.

The fallen man was brought by the orders of Lady Herrick into the house, and means were taken for his recovery. The moment that consciousness returned he made an ineffectual effort to start upon his feet, saying, "The Lord hath smitten me, yet must I gird up my loins and go, lest I fall into captivity."

"Stay till you can ride," replied Lady Herrick. "You are in safety here; for though I regard a Roundhead as an

enemy, I will not permit any to lay hands on one that common mercy bade me take in and shelter fear not, I say. That is right, Margaret," she added, seeing her daughter pour some wine into a glass for the use of the stranger; "take that: it will revive you, and give you strength to speed on."

A few seconds more, and both her son and Henry Lisle had entered the room. At the sight of the rebel in his mother's house, Sir George Herrick's blood kindled with rage, and neither the prayers of his mother or sister, nor the promise they had made to the stranger, had any effect. Bring a rope, I say, that I may hang this Roundhead cur to the oak before the door."

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"This must not be, George," said Henry Lisle, laying his hand upon his companion's shoulder.

"Must not be ! But it shall be. Who shall stay me?" "Your own better reason and honour, I trust,” replied the other. "Will you slay a man by your own hearth who put confidence in your mother's word?"

Sir George glared round for a moment in moody silence, and then put up his sword. "Well," said he at length, "if he stayed but on her promise, let him take himself away. He will grace the gibbet some other day."

That man was afterwards "Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England!" Henry Lisle had indeed recognised in the fugitive the famous Oliver Cromwell.

"Dost thou know me?" said the warrior, as he mounted his horse; "then thou doest the better deed in Israel!"

SECOND SCENE.

Time flew the temporary success obtained by General Goring over the forces of Oliver Cromwell was swept away and forgotten in a tide of brilliant triumphs won by the Parliamentary general, who trod upon steps of victory to the government of an empire,

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