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Are not so helpless, child, as you.
Forbear, then, to despise

Yon ragged girl; she has no friends
To make her good and wise."

-MARY BENNETT.

EARLY RISING.

RISE with the lark, and with the lark to bed. The breath of night's destructive to the hue Of every flower that blows. Go to the field, And ask the humble daisy why it sleeps Soon as the sun departs. Why close the eyes Of blossoms infinite ere the still moon Her Oriental veil puts off? Think why, Nor let the sweetest blossom be exposed That nature boasts to night's unkindly damp. Well may it droop, and all its freshness lose, Compelled to taste the rank and poisonous stream Of midnight theatre and morning ball. Give to repose the solemn hour she claims; And from the forehead of the morning steal The sweet occasion. Oh there is a charm That morning has, that gives the brow of age

A smack of youth, and makes the lip of youth
Breathe perfumes exquisite! Expect it not,
Ye who till noon upon a down-bed lie,
Indulging feverish sleep, or, wakeful, dream
Of happiness no mortal heart has felt
But in the regions of romance.
Ye fair,

Like you it must be wooed, or never won,
And, being lost, it is in vain ye ask
For milk of roses and Olympian dew.
Cosmetic art no tincture can afford
The faded features to restore: no chain,
Be it of gold and strong as adamant,
Can fetter beauty to the fair one's will.

-HURDIS.

BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

Be kind to each other!

The night's coming on,
When friend and when brother
Perchance may be gone!

Then 'midst our dejection,
How sweet to have earned

The blest recollection

Of kindness-returned !

When day hath departed,
And Memory keeps
Her watch, broken-hearted,
Where all she loved sleeps!
Let falsehood assail not,

Nor envy disprove-
Let trifles prevail not
Against those you love!
Nor change with to-morrow,
Should fortune take wing,
But the deeper the sorrow,
The closer still cling!
Oh, be kind to each other!
The night's coming on,

When friend and when brother
Perchance may be gone!

-CHARLES SWAIN.

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE.

A MAN very lame

Was a little to blame

To stray far from his humble abode;

Hot, thirsty, bemired,

And heartily tired,

He laid himself down in the road.

While thus he reclined,
A man who was blind

Came by and entreated his aid:
"Deprived of my sight,
Unassisted to-night,

I shall not reach home, I'm afraid."

"Intelligence give

Of the place where you live,”

Said the cripple, "perhaps I may know it;
In my road it may be,

And if you'll carry me,

It will give me much pleasure to show it.

Great strength you have got,
Which, alas! I have not,

In my legs so fatigued every nerve is ;
For the use of your back,

For the eyes which you lack,
My pair shall be much at your service."

Said the other poor man :
"What an excellent plan!

Pray get on my shoulders, good brother;
I see all mankind,

If they are but inclined,

May constantly help one another."

-R. S. SHARPE.

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

THY neighbour? It is he whom thou
Hast power to aid and bless,
Whose aching heart and burning brow
Thy soothing hand may press.

Thy neighbour? "Tis the fainting poor,
Whose eye with want is dim,
Whom hunger sends from door to door-
Go thou and succour him.

Thy neighbour? 'Tis that weary man,
Whose years are at their brim,
Bent low with sickness, cares, and pain-
Go thou and comfort him.

Thy neighbour? 'Tis the heart bereft
Of every earthly gem;
Widow and orphan, helpless left-
Go thou and shelter them.

Thy neighbour? Yonder toiling slave,
Fettered in thought and limb,
Whose hopes are all beyond the grave—
Go thou and ransom him.

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