When rocked amid the shrouds, or on And in his spot of garden ground, Models of cannoned ships of war, Were round his cabin hung,-his hours, And there were charts and soundings, made Fractures of coral from the deep, Old Simon had an orphan been, No relative had he: E'en from his childhood was he seen So at the age of raw thirteen, He took him to the sea. Four years on board a merchantman And all the isles of Western Ind, In endless summer clad, He knew, from pastoral St. Lucie, To palmy Trinidad.2 But sterner life was in his thoughts, When 'mid the sea-fight's jar, Stooped Victory from the battered shrouds, 'Twas then he went-a volunteer On board a man-of-war. Through forty years of storm and shine, To where frost rocks the Polar Seas, 1 Camperdown, a village of the Netherlands, 27 miles N. W. of Amsterdam, in the North Sea, celebrated for Admiral Duncan's victory over the Dutch fleet, 11th Oct., 1797. 2 Two islands in Windward group, West Indies. I recollect the brave old man- He comes again-his varnished hat, Yon turfen bench the veteran loved, The broad expanse of sea,- And lighted up his faded face, It was a music to his ear, To list the sea-mew's wail! Oft would he tell, how, under Smith, And plied their deadly shots, intrenched Behind their bags of sand. And when he told, how through the Sound, They passed the Cronberg batteries, His veteran eye with light! But chiefly of hot Trafalgar The brave old man would speak; And when he showed his oaken stump, While his eye filled-for wound on wound Had left him worn and weak. Ten years in vigorous old age, Tranquil as falls the snow on snow And slowly o'er him stealt. 1 Lord Nelson, a celebrated English Admiral, born in 1758, entered the navy when 12 years of age, rapidly gained distinction, and was, in 1797, made Rear Admiral. He annihilated the fleet which had conveyed the French into Egypt, in the bay of Aboukir, 1799. He, as Vice-Admiral, conducted the fleet against Copenhagen, 1801. He destroyed the united French and Spanish fleets at Cape Trafalgar, 21st Oct., 1805, but paid for the victory with his life. We missed him on our seaward walk, 'Twas harvest time;-day after day Thus did he weaken and he wane, He made them prop him in his couch, And now he watched the moving boat, Welcome as homestead to the feet Death to old Simon's dwelling came, And, breathing peace to all around, 1. Why did our tar build his cottage on the mount? 2. Why placed he a vane on the roof? 3. What plants were found in his garden? 4. What were hung round his cabin? 5. Name the three celebrated navigators. 6. What curiosities had he collected? 7. Give us the history of Simon when a boy. 8. Where did he sail when serving his time? 9. What "sterner life" is meant? 10. Where went he then? 11. Give the appearance of the brave old man. 12. What seat was his favourite one, and why? 13. What had happened when he was under Smith? 14. How many years of health had he in his cottage? 15. What disease at last made him bedfast? 16. Tell me how our poor old tar was when harvest came round. 17. What hour brings home the bird and the bee? 18. On what did he gaze when propped in his chair? 19. What came welcome to old Simon's cabin! REMEMBRANCES. I REMEMBER, I remember, The house where I was born, THOMAS HOOD. The little window, where the sun, I remember, I remember, I remember, I remember, And thought the air would rush as fresh My spirit flew in feathers, then, And summer pools could hardly cool I remember, I remember, The fir trees dark and high; I used to think their slender spires It was a childish ignorance, But now 'tis little joy To know I'm farther off from heaven, Than when I was a boy. Beneath that beggar's roof, That pavement, damp and cold, No mingling voices sound- A sob suppressed-again That short deep gasp, and then- Oh! change-oh, wondrous change, Oh! change-stupendous change! 1. Why is the entrance to the pauper's dwelling called a palace-gate? 2. What king holds court within ? 6. What has parted with that groan? 7. What prison bars are burst? 8. What was there a moment since in agony, and is now beyond the stars? 9. What were Christ's words to the penitent thief on the cross? BALLAD OF ROSABELLE. Oн listen, listen, ladies gay; SIR WALTER SCOTT. Soft is the note, and sad the lay, Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew! The blackening wave is edged with white; 1 Isle. |