TO MISS MARGARET D- -E.

GENTLE lady, of the noble name !—
And of a nature nobler still,

I would that I thy meed of fame,
Could in a measure richly fill
With grateful feelings from the heart.

All through thy life thy path hath been An ever-broad'ning road of love;

Like to the just, whose rays serene,

Lead wand'rers home to God above,

Thou blessed messenger of good!—

Upon thy brow refinement, truth,
Have set their seal indelibly,
With sweetness, too, and good, forsooth,

Replete with winsome charity,

And manners of the lady born.

I'm privileged to call thee friend,—

For thou hast been a friend to me!

In kindly actions, kindly words,

And gracious, pleasant courtesy,Reflecting clear thy soul within !—

Full often when I think of thee,—

Those holy women in the Word,

Who followed forth from Galilee,

And ministered unto the Lord,

Stand out revealed from shades of time !

For thou with them hast many things

In common, like unto their worth.-
Each handmaid of the King of kings!—
Each minister of good on earth-
As such to thee, I pen these lays,

Accept them as thy well-won praise!

Composed at Brawby Lodge, November 23-26, 1896. From boyhood I have had the happy privilege and honour of knowing and esteeming the friendship, virtues, and sincere Christian life of this truly noble gentlewoman, who holds a deservedly high place of merit in the hearts of our family.

FREEMASONRY.

HERE is laud to the craft,

That is lawful and right !—

To its members wherever they're found!— Whose watchwords are 'God, Brotherhood, Light, And Charity' all the world round.

It has stood ere the time

Of the pyramids old!

Its brethren to help and to bless!

As the centuries around it have rolled,

Has succoured and soothed their distress.

'Tis dreaded by despots,

And loved by slaves!

For its comrades are loyal and true !— And their object is, manhood to save, From those who would grant it to few.

Then give laud to the craft,

That is noble and good!

And its members wherever they're found!— Who full oft have oppression withstood, And tyranny, fettered and bound.

Composed at Brawby Lodge, November 26, 1896.

THE BUTTERFLY.

BRIGHT wanderer of summer hours!—
Gay rover of the spring!

Full well I love thee mid the flowers,-
Thou blossom on the wing !--

And frequently in boyhood's day
Have watched thee in thy flight,

As joyously athwart my way,

Thou fluttered onward bright.

Oft high in space amid the sky,
Upon thy painted wing,—
I've seen thee like a fairy sprite
Most pretty wandering

To fields of clover red and beans,

Whose fragrance filled the air,— Where belted bees and melodies Came sweet beyond compare.

Oh, charming little wanderer!
Beloved by every boy!-

To mankind surely thou art sent,
A source of guileless joy!—

To tell him of a future life,

By reason of thine own,-
So full of strange development,

Through many changes shown!

From egg to caterpillar-worm,—

From chrysalis to fly,—

Thou teachest souls of men, to yearn, For realms of bliss on high.

For who would think on finding thee,

A worm upon the earth !—

That in such creeping, crawling state,

Thy lovely form had birth?

Or seeing thee a chrysalis,

All dormant, quiet lie,

That here reposed the life and germ

Of beauteous butterfly?

What change what mighty change is here!

What transformation given !
When thus an earthly thing becomes

A creature of the heaven-

A winged creature clad in robes

Of various colours bright!

And suited to its fresh abodes
Amid the halls of light,

With tastes and habits different

From those it had before,

Enabling it, to nectar sip,

And other worlds explore.

Oh, living lesson from the Lord!
To all who choose to learn,-
We bear the witness with accord
That in thee we discern

A type of immortality!—

A likeness of man's soul !— When this frail earthly life is past,

Then heaven shall be its goal.