If he'd only return the way he went,
And bring the children behind him."
But the children were lost forever,

And all because the fat old Mayor tried to cheat
the Piper.

"So, (Children), let you and me be wipers

Of scores out with all men-especially pipers;
And, whether they pipe us free, from rats or from

mice,

If we've promised them aught, let us keep our

(With the permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Publishers.)

RHYME OF THE RAIL.

Singing through the forests,
Rattling over ridges,
Shooting under arches,

Rumbling over bridges,

Whizzing through the mountains,

Buzzing o'er the vale,

Bless me! this is pleasant,

Riding on the Rail!

Men of different 'stations'
In the eye of Fame
Here are very quickly
Coming to the same.
High and lowly people,
Birds of every feather,
On a common level,
Traveling together!

Gentleman in shorts,

Looming very tall;

Gentleman at large,

Talking very small;

Gentleman in tights,

With a loose-ish mien;

Gentleman in gray,

Looking rather green.

Stranger on the left,

Closing up his peepers;
Now he snores amain,

Like the Seven Sleepers;
At his feet a volume
Gives the explanation,
How the man grew stupid
From 'Association'!

Market-woman careful

Of the precious casket,
Knowing eggs are eggs,
Tightly holds her basket;
Feeling that a smash,

If it came, would surely
Send her eggs to pot
Rather prematurely!

Singing through the forests,

Rattling over ridges,

Shooting under arches,

Rumbling over bridges,

Whizzing through the mountains,

Buzzing o'er the vale;

Bless me! this is pleasant,

Riding on the Rail!

-John G. Saxe.

19TH PSALM.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me 'from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

THE WATER DROPS.

Some little drops of water,
Whose home was in the sea,

To go upon a journey,
Once happened to agree.

A cloud they had for a carriage,
They drove a playful breeze,
And over town and country,
They rode along at ease.

But Oh! they were so many,
At last the carriage broke,
And to the ground came tumbling,
These frightened little folk.

And through the moss and grasses
They were compelled to roam,
Until a brooklet found them,
And carried them all home.

-Author not known.

THE GOUTY MERCHANT AND THE STRANGER.

In Broadstreet building, on a winter night,
Snug by his parlor-fire, a gouty wight
Sat all alone, with one hand rubbing
His feet, rolled up in fleecy hose,
With t'other he'd beneath his nose

The Public Ledger, in whose columns grubbing,
He noted all the sales of hops,

Ships, shops, and slops;

Gums, galls, and groceries; ginger, gin,

Tar, tallow, turmeric, turpentine, and tin;
When lo! a decent personage in black,

Entered and most politely said:

"Your footman, sir, has gone his nightly track
To the King's Head,

And left your door ajar, which I

Observed in passing by;

And thought it neighborly to give you notice."

"Ten thousand thanks; how very few do get, In time of danger,

Such kind attentions from a stranger!
Assuredly, that fellow's throat is

Doomed to a final drop at Newgate:

He knows, too (the unconscionable elf),

That there's no soul at home except myself."

"Indeed," replied the stranger, looking grave,
"Then he's a double knave;

He knows that rogues and thieves by scores
Nightly beset unguarded doors.
And see, how easily might one

Of these domestic foes,

Even beneath your very nose,

Perform his knavish tricks;

Enter your room, as I have done,

Blow out your candles-thus-and-thus—,
Pocket your silver candlesticks,

And-walk off-thus."

So said, so done; he made no more remark,
Nor waited for replies,

But marched off with his prize,

Leaving the gouty merchant in the dark.

-Byrom.

THE DEPARTED.

The departed! the departed!
They visit us in dreams,

And they glide above our memories
Like shadows over streams;

But where the cheerful lights of home

In constant luster burn,

The departed, the departed,

Can never more return!

The good, the brave, the beautiful,
How dreamless is their sleep,
Where rolls the dirge-like music
Of the ever-tossing deep!
Or where the surging night-winds
Pale winter's robes have spread
Above the narrow palaces,

In the cities of the dead!

I look around, and feel the awe
Of one who walks alone,
Among the wrecks of former days,
In mournful ruin strown;

I start to hear the stirring sounds
Among the cypress-trees,

For the voice of the departed
Is borne upon the breeze.

That solemn voice! it mingles with
Each free and careless strain;
I scarce can think earth's minstrelry
Will cheer my heart again.
The melody of summer waves,
The trilling notes of birds,
Can never be so dear to me,

As their remembered words.