1826.] Remarks on Friendly Societies. 59S 



poor against this demoralizing, and oppressive evil. When the la- 

 bourer is left to receive from his employer the fair compensation for his 

 work, he will then be able to secure independence and comfort by 

 uniting with the Friendly Societies. Now, superior skill and industry 

 have no excitement by proportional rewards — the wages are fixed, in too 

 manj' districts, and the deficit made good by the parish — most of whom, 

 we again repeat, are cheated and gulled, and made to pay for that labour 

 from which they receive no benefit. 



No great good is to be obtained without corresponding exertion. The 

 future results to the kingdom by the skilful adoption and support of 

 these great societies would be most beneficial : so the exertions by the 

 clergy (in particular), by the landholders, by every friend to humanity, 

 should be commensurate, and we heartily hope that the toils of Becher, 

 Southeron, and Fleming, will be amply repaid by finding their bright 

 example followed by their country. 



HUMAN LIFE. 



A Ballad. 



I stood by the towers of Ardenveile 



And the bells rang out a jocund peal, 



Loudly and merrily rang they then. 



O'er field, and valley, and sylvan glen ; 



And each cheek look'd bright as the blush of morn, 



And each voice sounded gay as the forester's horn, 



And each heart was glad, for a heiress was born. 



I stood by those time-worn towers again. 

 And prancing forth came a gallant train ; 

 There was the priest in his robes of white. 

 And there was a maiden lovely and bright. 

 And a gallant knight rode by her side ; 

 And the shouts of joy sounded far and wide. 

 For the heiress was Rudolph dc Courcy's bride. 



And again by those portals proud did I stand. 



And again came forth a gallant band. 



And I saw that same priest ; but sad was his face, 



And I saw that same knight, but he shrouded his face. 



And I saw not that maiden in beauty's bloom. 



But a shroud, and a bier, and a sable plume, 



For the heiress was borne to her forefathers' tomb. 



And such is human life at best, 



A mother's — a lover's — the green earth's breast ; 



A wreath that is formed of flow'rets three. 



Primrose, and myrtle, and rosemary ; 



A hopeful, a joyful, a sorrowful stave, 



A launch, a voyage, a whelming wave, 



The cradle, the bridal bed, and the grave. 



H. N. 



M.M. New Series. — Vol. I. No. 6. 4 G 



