little soldiers are administering wholesome punishment. In default of firearms and the death-penalty, they bethink them of the town-pump and the horse-trough, and they are bringing him, in spite of his cries and unavailing resistance, to purge his guilty head in the flowing water, and then to tell him, with jeers and shouts, "See if you'll desert any more!" Boys and girls are arand girls are arrayed under the mimic banner, and seem to enjoy the work as much as he is tortured by it. If, as the Church and church-goers would suggest, it is Sunday, these children have permitted their sense of even-handed justice to lord it over Christian charity, and seem to think, with the old adage, "the better the day, the better the deed." As probably the worst that can happen to the young deserter is a good washing and a wholesome lesson, the spectator is not much concerned as to the moral aspect of the affair, and is even disposed to think that present justice may be the truest charity for the future. Perhaps, should war again comewhich God forbid !-the recollection of that ducking may save the afflicted youth from a deserter's grave, and thus he should continually bless his tormentors. HABITS OF THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS. FROM "A TRAGICAL COMEDY OF ALEXANDER AND CAMPASPE," PUBLISHED IN 1584. MELIPPUS. I had never such ado to warn scholars to come before a king. First I came to Chrysippus, a tall, lean, old madman, willing him presently to appear before Alexander. He stood He stood staring in my face, neither moving his eyes nor his body. ALEXANDER, HEPHÆSTION, DIOGENES. DIOGENES. Who calleth? ALEX. Alexander. How happened it that you would not come out of your tub to my palace? DIOG. Because I would have none of Diogenes' mind, but Diogenes. ALEX. If Alexander have anything that may pleasure Diogenes, let me know, and take it. DIOG. Then take not from me that you cannot give me the light of the world. ALEX. What dost thou want? DIOG. Nothing that you have. ALEX. I have the world at command. ALEX. Thou shalt live no longer than I will. DIOG. But I shall die whether you will NOTHING ON EARTH PERMANENT. HEN Wisdom again THEN His treasury of words unlocked, Sung various maxims, And thus expressed himself: "When the sun Clearest shines, Serenest in the heaven, Because their brightness is not When mild blows The south and western wind From METRES OF BOETHIUS. DELIGHTFUL task to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot! HEAVEN'S SUNRISE TO EARTH'S BLINDNESS. T is the hour for souls, "And second, sapphire; third, chalcedony; That bodies, leavened by the The rest in order; last, an amethyst." will and love, Be lightened to redemption. The world's old, But the old world waits the hour to be renewed Toward which new hearts in individual growth ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. THE UNBIDDEN GUEST. I COME! Ye have lighted your festal hall, And music is sounding its joyous call, Must quicken and increase to And the guests are gathering-the young, multitude the fair, In new dynasties of the race! With the flower-wreathed brow and the of men; Developed whence, shall grow spontaneously New churches, new ceremonies, new laws Admitting freedom, new societies braided hair. I come, but so noiseless shall be my way Through the smiling crowds of the young and gay Excluding falsehood. He shall make all Not a thought shall rise in a careless, breast We have met before. Ay, I wandered here To the sleep that dwells in the damp white shroud: My voice shall be sweet in the maiden's ear As the voice of her lover whispering near, And my footstep so soft by the infant's bed He will deem it his mother's anxious tread, And his innocent eyes will gently close They died when the first spring blossom was As I kiss from his bright young lips the seen, rose: They faded away when the groves were Oh, the good and the pure have naught to green, fear When the suns of autumn were faint and When my voice in the gathering gloom they brief hear. |