WHEN icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And Tom bears logs into the hall, And milk comes frozen home in pail. When blood is nipt, and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring Owl, Tu-whit, tu-whoo, a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. When all aloud the wind doth blow, And coughing drowns the parson's saw, And birds sit brooding in the snow, And Marian's nose looks red and raw : And nightly sings the staring Owl, THE WHITE STORK. Minstrelsy of the Woods. THE flames are on the city wall, To bear her children through the skies. Poor bird! in vain is all thy care! Has proved thee faithful, fond, and true; 66 Fly, faithful bird, there still is space, Nor perish with thy helpless race!" She heeds us not-the flames ascend, And all in one wide ruin blend ; And since their lives she cannot save, She shares with them one common grave. The strength that wins the martyr's crown.* "The affection which the Stork manifests for her young has been proverbial from antiquity. She feeds them for a long period, nor quits them till they can defend and provide for themselves. She bears them on her wings, and protects them from danger, and has been known to perish rather than abandon them, an instance of which was exhibited in the town of Delft, in 1636, when a fire broke out in a building that had a Stork's nest on it, containing young unable to fly. The old Stork made several attempts to save them, but, finding allin vain, she at last spread her wings over them, and in that endearing attitude expired with them in the flames."-Brit. Cyclop. THE GOLDFINCH'S NEST. Graham. SOMETIMES, suspended at the limber end Of plane-tree spray, among the broad-leaved shoots, The tiny hammock swings to every gale; Sometimes in closest thickets 'tis conceal'd; Of climbing vetch, and honeysuckle wild, But mark the pretty bird himself! how light How beautiful his plumes! his red-tinged head; wing; A fairy fan of golden spokes it seems. |