LESSON CLVII. WATER FOR ME! The following Anacreontic lines in praise of Water, were written by JOHNSON, a modern English poet, who, it is to be hoped, has written much besides, although this is the only specimen of his verse that is known to the Editor. The speaker must be lively and spirited to the last. O! water for me-bright water for me! It comes o'er the sense like a breeze from the sea, O! water, bright water, for me, for me,- Fill to the brim! fill, fill to the brim! Fill again to the brim-again to the brim! When o'er the hills, like a gladsome bride, As he freshens his wing on the cold gray cloud. But when evening has quitted her sheltering yew, Drowsily flying and weaving anew Her dusky meshes o'er land and sea, How gently, O sleep, fall thy poppies on me! And my dreams are of heaven the life-long night. LESSON CLVIII. THE WELL OF ST. KEYNE. St. Keyne, daughter of Braganus, prince of that part of Wales now called Brecknockshire, early devoted herself to the church by a perpetual vow. The legend says that she retired to a desert and near a spring, over which four trees of different species formed an arch. After her death, which happened in A. D. 490, the well or spring was much fre quented by devotees, and among the virtues ascribed to the water, was that of giving the mastery to which ever, husband or wife, drank first of it. The following Ballad was written by SOUTHEY. A well there is in the west country, And a clearer one never was seen; There is not a wife in the west country An oak and an elm-tree stand beside, And a willow from the bank above A traveller came to the well of St. Keyne; For from cock-crow he had been travelling, He drank of the water so cool and so clear, And he sat down upon the bank There came a man from the house hard by, On the well-side he rested it, And he bade the stranger, hail! "Now art thou a bachelor, Stranger?" quoth he; The happiest draught thou hast drank this day "Or has thy good woman, if one thou hast, Ever here in Cornwall been? For an* if she have, I'll venture my life, She has drank of the well of St. Keyne." "I have left a good woman who never was here," The stranger made reply; "But that my draught should be the better for that, I pray you answer me why." "St. Keyne," quoth the Cornish-man, "many a time Drank of this crystal well; *This old word is not the article an, but an old verb meaning grant. See the Editor's Common School Grammar. And before the angel summoned her, "If the husband, of this gifted well For he shall be master for life! "But if the wife should drink of it first The stranger stooped to the well of St. Keyne, "You drank of the well, I warrant, betimes ?" He to the Cornish-man said; But the Cornish-man smiled as the stranger spake, And sheepishly shook his head. "I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done, But i' faith she had been wiser than I, LESSON CLIX. A PARENTAL ODE TO MY FIRST AND ONLY SON, AGED TWO YEARS, ONE MONTH AND FIFTEEN DAYS. The following witty and satirical lines were taken from the Boston Courier, but were not original in that paper. The Editor suspects that THOMAS HOOD indited them, but of this he has no other than internal evidence. The piece affords the pupil a fine opportunity to practise a change of voice, the Ode being constantly interrupted by exclamations which are full of advice to over indulgent parents. An Elf is a spirit, and usually a fairy. Puck means a mischievous sprite, or spirit. Fay is the same as Elf or Fairy. Thou happy, happy elf! (But stop,-first let me kiss away that tear)— Thou tiny image of myself! (My love, he's poking peas into his ear.) Thou merry laughing sprite! With spirits feather light, Untouched by sorrow, and unsoiled by sin- Thou little tricksy Puck! With antic toys so funnily bestruck, Light as the singing bird that wings the air, (The door! the door! he'll tumble down the stair!) Thou darling of thy sire! (Why, Jane, he'll set his pinafore a-fire!) In love's dear chain, so strong and bright a link, Thou cherub-but of earth; Fit play-fellow for fays, by moonlight pale, (That dog will bite him if he pulls his tail!) (He'll break the mirror with that skipping rope !) With pure heart newly stamped from nature's mint— (Where did he learn that squint ?) Thou young domestic dove! (He'll have that urn off with another shove!) Little epitome of man! (He'll climb upon the table, that's his plan!) |