5. 'Mong angels, do you think of the precious golden link I bound around your happy arm while sitting on yon brink? Till the morn broke, Barbara ? 6. In the years I've changed; wild and far my heart has ranged, Love has saved me, Barbara! 7. O Love! I am unblest; with monstrous doubts opprest In vain, in vain, in vain! you will never come again, There droops upon the dreary hills a mournful fringe of rain ; I am weary, Barbara ! SMITH. ALEXANDER SMITH, a Scottish poet, was born in Kilmarnock, Dec. 31, 1830. He was educated for the clerical profession, but circumstances defeated the project. At the age of seventeen he began to exercise his talents in metrical composition. In 1852 he first wrote for the “Critic," and the "Eclectic Review," in the former of which appeared in installments his poem of the "Life Drama." In 1854 he was appointed secretary of the University of Edinburgh, and about the same time delivered a series of public lectures, one of which, "Burns as a Poet," was much commended. He soon after published He was a frequent contributor to the periodical press. He died in 1867. F SECTION XI. I. 44. THE LOST DAY AREWELL, oh day misspent! In vain to my endeavor. In shade and sun thy race is run The leaf drops from the tree, 2. It was not till thine end I knew thou wert my friend; Pass, minutes, pass; may better fate 3. Oh, birth! oh, death of Time! Oh, mystery sublime! Ever the rippling ocean Brings forth the wave to smile or rave, And die of its own motion. A little wave to strike The sad responsive shōre, Ever and evermore. 4. Oh change from same to same! Pass to Eternity. Thou day, that came in vain! 5. Come in, To-day, come in! I have confessed my sin. - To thee, young promise-bearer! Child of the agès past! Sire of a mightier line! On the same deeps our lot is cast! The world is thine-and mine! MACKAY. CHARLES MACKAY, LL.D., a British author, born in Perth in 1812. He was partly educated in Brussels, and after returning to England, published a volume of poems. He became attached to the staff of the "Morning Chronicle" newspaper in 1834, so remain. ing nine years, and was editor of the "Glasgow Argus" three years. He has written much and well, both in prose and verse, and ranks among the first of the present British authors. Many of his songs have attained great popularity, and the music to which they are set is in some cases of his own composition. II. 45. IT WILL NEVER DO TO BE IDLE. ON NE day, on my return from a long walk, I was driven to take shelter from a rain storm in a little hovel by the roadside a sort of cobbler's stall. The tenant and his son were upon their work, and after the customary use of greetings, I entered familiarly into talk with them, as indeed I always do, seeing that your cobbler is often a man of contemplative faculty —that there is really something of mystery in his craft. he 2. Befōre I had been with them long, the old man found that there lacked something for his work, and in order to provide it he sent his son out on a job of some five minutes. The interval was a short one, but it was too long for his active impatience; became uneasy, shuffled about the room, and at last took up a scrap or two of leather and fell to work upon them. "For," said he, "it will never do, you know, sir, to be idle-not for me at any rate-I should faint ǎway." 3. I happened just then to be in an impressible mood, without |