Mavourneen "and" Johnny Schmoker," who were taking a stroll by the "Murmuring Sea," hearing the unusual sounds, wildly exclaimed, "What are the wild waves saying?"

When all the guests had arrived, the sweet sounds of music caused the "Old Folks" to ask "What fairy-like music steals over the ear?" while the younger ones, who well knew what it meant, prepared to "Trip it through the mazy measures of the dance." And then came "Such a gettin' up stairs" that " John Anderson, my jo," with "Auld Robin Gray," cried in alarm, "What can the matter be?" and protested against such a "Bobbin' around."

And now were seen some strange associations. "A Minstrel Boy" caught up "The harp that once threw (through) Tara's halls," remarking that it should not throw any more halls if he could help it! "Gayly the troubadour touched his guitar," explaining, however, that his name was Smith, and not Gayly. "Tommy Tompkins" cried, "O come, maidens, come !" and led " Maggie by my side" to the dance. "A fine old English gentleman," looking on wistfully, sighed "O, would I were a boy again!" "Araby's daughter" gave her hand to "Truthful James from Table Mountain." "A Swiss toy girl" selected from among a number of aspirants to her hand a "Flying Dutchman" from "Bingen on the Rhine," leaving "My Mary Ann," "Polly Hopkins," and "Natalie, the maid of the mill," among the wallflowers. These young ladies retired in disgust to a "Bridge of sighs," and listened to the" Sad sea waves" until "Three roguish chaps" from "The good old colony times" interrupted their musings. One of them, "The little tailor boy, with his broadcloth under his arm," was heard to whisper, "I'd offer thee this hand of mine," "If I had but a thousand a year, Gaffer

Green," or "A little farm well tilled," or even

A cot beside the sea," to which we could retire when "The day is cold and dark and dreary" and listen to the "Rain upon the roof." Miss "Polly Hopkins" replied with more force than elegance, "Not for Joe;" whereupon the discomfited tailor drew out his "Larboard watch," looked at the time, and retired "To drive dull care away" by strolling "On the beach at Long Branch." His friends, the miller and weaver, saying to each other, "You know how it is yourself," followed his example. In the meantime a group of lively old ladies seated themselves by the "Ingle side" to talk of " Auld lang syne," among whom were "Mother Goose," "Goody Two-shoes," and "Dame Partington." The good souls were petting" Ginx's baby," and were so merry that "Old King Cole" took a seat among them in an "Old arm chair, ," and taking out his pipe (one of the famous "Pipes of Lucknow") proved himself the "Jolly old soul" he is reported to be. "At the Midnight hour" supper was announced by that prince of waiters, "Dandy Jim of Caroline." After a sumptuous repast, "Rip Van Winkle" remarked drowsily to another elderly guest, "We are a' noddin'," and suggested the propriety of returning to their "Sweet home." But at this there was a general outcry, "We won't go home till morning." So they went merrily "On with the dance."

Somewhere among the "wee sma' hours," one of the Scottish chieftains threw his plaid about him exclaiming, "My heart is in the Highlands, my heart is not here!"' "Gude night, and joy be with you all!" This was the signal for a general movement among the guests toward returning "Home again." An " Arkansas traveler' proposed "A health to thee, Tom Moore." "Hiawatha" fol. lowed with "One bumper at parting;" after which al took leave of their hostess with "That dear old word

"Good-bye."" A "Switzer" led bravely off with his "Song of home;" the Scottish party struck up "Over the water to Charlie;" the Irish sang "The bold anthem of Erin go bragh;" the Americans turned their faces toward Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," with a chorus to the "Star-spangled Banner," and soon

66

"H"

"The lights were fled, the garlands dead,

The banquet hall deserted."

MRS. M. E. ALLEN.

OUR FOLKS.

I! Harry Holly! Halt,-and tell
A fellow just a thing or two;
You've had a furlough, been to see
How all the folks in Jersey do.
It's months ago since I was there,-
I, and a bullet from Fair Oaks.
When you were home,-old comrade, say,
Did you see any of our folks?

You did? Shake hands,-Oh, ain't I glad;
For if I do look grim and rough,
I've got some feelin'-People think
A soldier's heart is mighty tough;
But, Harry, when the bullets fly,
And hot saltpetre flames and smokes,
While whole battalions lie afield,

One's apt to think about his folks.

And so you saw them-when? and where?
The old man-is he hearty yet?
And mother-does she fade at all?
Or does she seem to pine and fret
For me? And Sis ?-has she grown tall?
And did you see her friend-you know

That Annie Moss-(How this pipe chokes!)

Where did you see her?-tell me, Hal,
A lot of news about our folks.
You saw them in the church, you say;
It's likely, for they're always there.
Not Sunday? no? A funeral? Who?
Who, Harry? how you shake and stare!
All well, you say, and all were out.

What ails you, Hal? Is this a hoax?
Why don't you tell me like a man

What is the matter with our folks?"
"I said all well, old comrade, true;
I say all well, for He knows best
Who takes the young ones in His arms
Before the sun goes to the west.
The axe-man Death deals right and left,
And flowers fall as well as oaks;
And so-fair Annie blooms no more!
And that's the matter with your folks.
See, this long curl was kept for you;
And this white blossom from her breast
And here your sister Bessie wrote
A letter, telling all the rest.

Bear up, old friend." Nobody speaks;

Only the old camp-raven croaks,

And soldiers whisper: "Boys, be still;

There' some bad news from Grainger's folks."

He turns his back—the only foe

That ever saw it—on this grief,

And, as men will, keeps down the tears
Kind Nature sends to Woe's relief.
Then answers he, "Ah! Hal, I'll try,
But in my throat there's something chokes,
Because, you see, I've thought so long
To count her in among our folks.

I s'pose she must be happy now,
But still I will keep thinking too,
I could have kept all trouble off

By being tender, kind, and true.
But maybe not. She's safe up there,

And when His hand deals other strokes,
She'll stand by heaven's gate, I know,

And wait to welcome in our folks."

ETHEL LYNN,

THE BURIAL OF MOSES.

And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-poer; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.-Deut. xxxiv, 6.

Y Nebo's lonely mountain,

BY

On this side Jordan's wave,

In a vale in the land of Moab,
There lies a lonely grave;
But no man dug that sepulchre,

And no man saw it e'er,

For the angels of God upturned the sod,

And laid the dead man there.

That was the grandest funeral

That ever passed on earth;
But no man heard the tramping,
Or saw the train go forth;
Noiselessly as the daylight

Comes when the night is done,

And the crimson streak on the ocean's cheek

Grows into the great sun,—

Noiselessly as the spring-time
Her crown of verdure weaves,
And all the trees on all the hills
Open their thousand leaves.-