And then he told how he had knelt And the tomb where he was laid; And then he turned unto the book, And all his comfortable words, He read, and of the widow's mite, As water to the parched soil, Thus, through the midnight did they read And then came in the woodman's son To fetch the book away. All quick and troubled was his speech, For he said "The king had made a law That the book must not be read, For it was such fearful heresy, The holy abbot said." TO MY LITTLE COUSIN, WITH HER FIRST BONNET. MISS BOWLES. FAIRIES! guard the baby's bonnet ! Set a special watch upon it; Elfin people! to your care I commit it, fresh and fair; Neat as neatness,-white as snow, See ye keep it ever so. Watch and ward set all about,- A score at least, on either side, And so the precious charge convey Through all the dangers of the way. The bonnet and the babe also. Gift it to protect her well, As much of feeling as will bear Ye vanish into thinnest air! And with ye parts the playful vein, Befits me better, babe! for thee A JEWISH FAMILY. (In a small valley opposite Saint Goar, upon the Rhine.) WORDSWORTH. GENIUS of Raphael! if thy wings Might bear thee to this glen, With faithful memory left of things To pencil dear, and pen, Thou wouldst forego the neighbouring Rhine And all his majesty A studious forehead to incline O'er this poor family. The mother-her thou must have seen, In spirit, ere she came To dwell these rifted rocks between, Or found on earth a name; An image, too, of that sweet boy, Of playfulness, and love, and joy, |