186 MEMOIR OF GEOEGE WILSON. CHAP. IV. 



' When life was in its spring, 

 And his young muse just waved its joyous wing, 

 The spoiler came.' 



" Among these youthful productions contributed by our cousin 

 to the MS. volume is one of considerable length, and rich in 

 quaint, fanciful imaginings. It is entitled ' The Trance,' and is 

 ' founded on a story told in one of the Fathers, of a monk who 

 was bewailed as dead, and afterwards awoke in life. 



" The volume is illustrated with pen-and-ink sketches, and 

 one of the lighter effusions of ' Bottle Imp's' quill may be given 

 here, though the contents of the book embrace grave and earnest 

 thoughts, as well as quirks and quiddities : 



MERMAIDS' TEARS. 



Pearls are the tears that mermaids weep 

 When they their midnight vigils keep, 

 For mermaids sigh, and sorrow too, 

 And weep, as well as I or you. 



Perhaps you've thought, perhaps believed, 

 That mermaids, when their hearts were grieved, 

 Wept briny tears ; 'tis even true, 

 'Tis they Avith salt the waves imbue. 



But tears more precious must be shed, 

 When those whom they have loved are dead, 

 The mermen of the deep, whose charms 

 Have wiled the mermaids to their arms. 



And nereids catch them in their shells, 

 And hide them where the sea fish dwells, 

 Till years revolving tint them o'er 

 With hues they did not know before. 



Then from the depths of Eastern seas, 

 Where dive the swarthy Ceylonese, 

 The tiny shell-fish, from the rude rock torn, 

 Through waves unwelcome, to the light is borne. 



The unconscious casket of a gem, 



Dies to adorn a diadem ; 



And tears that trembled in a mermaid's eyes 



Become an English lady's prize. 



"The advantages of Professor Graham's laboratory did not 

 altogether realize George's expectations ; but he attained in 



