XVI.

There is no blind selection;-here are seen Books on all subjects, art and science too, Histories of men and nations; and I ween Of great and gifted poets not a fewShakspeare and Milton, Thomson, Blair, and Burns, Are kept with care within this humble bield, And all are read with rapture-read by turns; While round the blazing fire, or in the field, These great and gifted minds unmingled pleasure yield.

XVII.

But now the sun is sinking in the west, The day's declining, evening winds grow cool, The younger cottars now again get dress'd, For they maun a' gang to the Sabbath-school. The auld guidwife gets a' her young sons near, To say their tasks to her before they gae; The guidman gets his daughters, he does speer Their questions at them, ranged around his knee; He strokes their heads and bids them "Say your task to me."

XVIII.

And now they leave their humble home, and go With willing hearts to school, at which are seen Young groups all free from sorrow, care, and woe With patience loitering on the village green; And soon they enter, soon their tasks are said. Here all are told and taught to sing and pray, An exhortation's given, a chapter's read, The young mind's made familiar with the way Of Him who shall appear at the great Judgment-Day.

XIX.

But time flies on, the twilight bell is pealing, The sun has sunk behind yon heath-clad hill; Darkness on wood and dell is quickly stealing, Night comes apace, and all is hushed and still; Homeward in haste our humble group returning, Enter their cot-dispelled is every dread

The door is barred, the lamp is dimly burningThe Bible's opened, passages are read,

Which, thanks be to our God, console the heart and head.

XX.

Hark! once again the voice of praise ascends,
How the heart melts at melody so sweet!
The contrite bosom in devotion bends,
And yields its grateful homage at the feet
Of Him who made the world in which we live;
Who gives us all our comforts day by day,
And sent his Son, who taught us to forgive

Our earthly foes, and pointed out the way
To gain His love, who is our comfort, staff, and stay.

XXI.

Hail! to this humble family, peace and rest

Be ever with them in this world below— All hail to him who hath a feeling breast, Who sees and fain would share a brother's woe. Peace to the just, the generous, and the good; Hasten that time, O Lord, when we shall see Thy holy precepts practised-understoodO then, and not till then, will mankind be The good and god-like beings meant and made by thee.

THE AULD KIRK-YARD.

""Tis but a night, a long and moonless night,
We make the grave our bed, and then are gone."

BLAIR.

I.

O! weel I like to wander

When the e'ening sun is set

When the raven on the castle croaks,
An' the grass wi' dew is wet-

When the birds ha'e ceased their singin',
And are to their hames repair'd-
Then, O! then, I like to wander

In the auld kirk-yard.

II.

Grim Death comes fast upon us,
An' takes baith ane an' a';
He flies about on fiery wing,

An' tears our friends awa'.

The father and the mither dies,
An' the bairnie it's no spared.
Folk are freed frae a' their sorrows
In the auld kirk-yard.

III.

In the auld kirk-yard, I've pleasures
That the gay can never ha’e,
Though whiles I may be gloomy, ·
An' my heart wi' trouble wae,
O! it's there that I see justice:
There the cottar and the laird
Lie side by side and slumber

In the auld kirk-yard.

IV.

I like to see the charnel-house

Where lie decaying banes;— I like to read the epitaphs Engraven on the stanes;I like to lean upon the tombs, An' tread the lang green sward That waves o'er friends departed

In the auld kirk-yard.