104 



NEW ENGLAND FARjMER. 



Feb. 



[Cupiad by purmiBBiun from Apphtori's Juvtnde Annual.} 

 THE DO» AND THE WATER-LILY. 



The noon was shady, and soft airs 



Swept Ouse'a eiknt tide, 

 When, 'scaped from literary cares, 



I wandered by its side. 



•My spaniel, prettiest of the race, 



And high in pedigree 

 (Two nymphs aclorned with every grace 



That tpaniel found for me), 



Now, wantoned, lost in flags and reeds, 



Now starling into sight, 

 Pursued the twallow o'er the meads. 



With scarce a slower flight. 



It was the time when Ouse displayed 



Her lilies nowly blown; 

 Their beauties I intent surveyed, 



And one I wished my own. 



With cane extended far, I sought 



To steer it close to land : 

 But still the prize, though nearly caught. 



Escaped my eager hand. 



Beau marked my unsuccessful pains 



With fixed considerate face. 

 And puzzling set his puppy brains 



To comprenend the case. 



But, with a chirrun r^lear and strong 



Dispersii'g all his dream, 

 I thence wittidrew, and followed long 



The windings of the stream. 



My ramble ended, I returned ; 



Beau, trotting far before. 

 The floating weath again discerned 



And plunging left the shore. 



I 81W him, with that lily cropped. 



Impatient swim to miet 

 My quick approach, and soon he dropped 



Tne treasure at my feet. 



Charmed with the sight, "The world," I cried, 

 "Shall hear of this thy deed ; 



My song shall mortify the pride 

 Of man's superior breed : 



"But chief mysf If I will enjoin. 



Awake at duty's call. 

 To show a love as prompt as thine 



To him who gives me all." 



COWPER. 



A SHORT STORY ABOUT HONESTY. 



One evening a poor man and his son, a little 

 boy, sat by the wayside, near the gate of an 

 old town in Germany. The flither took a 

 loaf of bread which he had bought in town 

 and broke it, and gave half to his son. 



"Not so, father," said the boy; "I shall 

 not eat until after you. You have been work- 

 ing all day, for small wages, to support me, 

 and you must be very hungry. I shall wait 

 until you are done." 



"You speak kindly, my son," replied the 

 father. "Your love to me does me more 

 good than my food ; and those eyes of yours 

 remind me of your dear mother, who has left 

 us, and told you to love me as she ustd to do ; 

 and, indeed, my boy, you have been a great 

 strength and support to me. But now I have 

 eaten the first morsel to please you, it is your 

 turn now to eat." 



"Thank you, father; but break this piece 

 in two, and take a little more ; you see the 

 loaf is not large, and you require much more 

 than I do." 



"I shall divide the loaf for you, my boy, 

 but eat it I shall not. 1 have abundance ; and 

 let us thank God for his goodness, in giving 



