A

10

YOUNGSTER at school, more sedate than the
rest,

Had once his integrity put to the test:
His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob,
And asked him to go and assist in the job.

He was shocked, sir, like you, and answered, "Oh, no!

What! rob our good neighbor! I pray you

don't go;

Besides, the man's poor, his orchard's his bread; Then think of his children, for they must be fed."

"You speak very fine, and you look very grave,
But apples we want, and apples we'll have;
If you will go with us, you shall have a share,
If not, you shall have neither apple nor pear."

They spoke, and Tom pondered-"I see they will go;

Poor man! what a pity to injure him so!

Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I could, But staying behind will do him no good.

"If the matter depended alone upon me,

His apples might hang till they dropped from the tree;

But since they will take them, I think I'll go too,— He will lose none by me, though I get a few."

His scruples thus silenced, Tom felt more at ease, And went with his comrades the apples to seize; He blamed and protested, but joined in the plan: He shared in the plunder, but pitied the man.

COWPER (Pity for Poor Africans).

I

11

LOVE Contemplating— apart

From all his homicidal gloryThe traits that soften to our heart Napoleon's story.

'Twas when his banners at Boulogne
Armed in our island every freeman,
His navy chanced to capture one
Poor British seaman.

They suffered him-I know not how-
Unprisoned on the shore to roam;
And aye was bent his longing brow
On England's home.

At last, when care had banished sleep,

He saw one morning-dreaming-doting

An empty hogshead from the deep

Come shoreward floating.

He hid it in a cave, and wrought

The livelong day laborious; lurking
Until he launched a tiny boat
By mighty working.

Heaven help us! 'twas a thing beyond
Description wretched; such a wherry
Perhaps ne'er ventured on a pond,
Or crossed a ferry.

For ploughing in the salt-sea field

It would have made the boldest shudder; Untarred, uncompassed, and unkeeled, No sail -no rudder.

From neighboring woods he interlaced
His sorry skiff with wattled willows;
And thus equipped he would have passed
The foaming billows-

But Frenchmen caught him on the beach, His little Argo sorely jeering;

Till tidings of him chanced to reach

Napoleon's hearing.

With folded arms Napoleon stood,
Serene alike in peace and danger;
And, in his wonted attitude,

Addressed the stranger:

"Rash man, that wouldst yon Channel pass On twigs and staves so rudely fashioned! Thy heart with some sweet British lass Must be impassioned."

"I have no sweetheart," said the lad d;
"But-absent long from one another-

Great was the longing that I had
To see my mother."

"And so thou shalt," Napoleon said;
"Ye've both my favor fairly won;
A noble mother must have bred
So brave a son."

He gave the tar a piece of gold,

And, with a flag of truce, commanded He should be shipped to England Old, And safely landed.