a

Now talk'd of this, and then of that,
Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the chameleon's form and nature.
“ A stranger animal,” cries one,
“ Sure never lived beneath the sun!
“ A lizard's body, lean and long,
“ A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
“Its foot with tripled claw disjoin'd;
“ And what a length of tail behind!
“How slow its pace! and then its hue-
“ Who ever saw so fine a blue!”
“Hold there!” the other quick replies,
“'Tis green-I saw it with these eyes,
“ As late with open mouth it lay,
66 And warm'd it in the sunny ray;
“Stretch'd at its ease, the beast I view'd
6. And saw it eat the air for food.”
“I've seen it, sir, as well as you,
“And must again affirm it blue;
- At leisure I the beast survey'd
“Extended in the cooling shade.”
Tis

green, 'tis green, sir, I assure ye.” “ Green!” cries the other in a fury;

Why, sir—d'ye think I've lost my eyes? " wo? Twere no great loss,” the friend replies, “For, if they always serve you thus “You'll find 'em but of little use!” So high at last the contest rose, From words they almost came to blows; When luckily came by a third: To him the question they referr'd; And begged he'd tell 'em if he knew Whether the thing was green or blue.

Sirs,” cries the umpire, cease your pother; • The creature's neither one nor t'other.

6

66

“I caught the animal last night,
“And view'd it o’er by candle-light;
"I mark'd it well—'twas black as jet-
• You stare—but sirs, I've got it yet,
“ And can produce it,”—“Pray, sir, do:
“I'll lay my life the thing is blue.”
“ And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen
“ The reptile, you'll pronounce it green.”
“Well then, at once to end the doubt,”
Replies the man, “ I'll turn him out;
“And when before your eyes I've set him,
“ If you dont find him black, I'll eat him."
He said; then full before their sight
Produced the beast, and lo!—'twas white !
Both stared—the man look'd wondrous wise-
'My children,” the Chameleon cried,
(Then first the creature found a tongue,)
“You all are right, and all are wrong!
“When next you speak of what you

view.
“ Think others see, as well as you:
“Nor wonder if you find that none
“ Prefer your eyesight to their own ! ”

Merrick.

25. —THE SANDS O' DEE.

“O MARY, go and call the cattle home,

" And call the cattle home,

" And call the cattle home, “ Across the sands o’ Dee!” The western wind was wild and dank with foam,

And all alone went she.

The creeping tide came up along the sand,

And o'er and o'er the sand,

And round and round the sand.
As far as

ye
could

see;
The blinding mist came down and hid the land.

And never home came she.
Oh, is it weed, or fish, or floating hair?

A tress o golden hair,

O’ drowned maiden's hair,

Above the nets at sea.
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair

Among the stakes on Dee.
They row'd her in across the rolling foam,

The cruel crawling foam,

The cruel hungry foam,

To her grave beside the sea: But still the boatmen have heard her call the cattle home, Across the sands o' Dee.

Kingsley.

26. — JOIIN GILPIN.
JOHN GILPIN was a citizen

Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he

Of famous London town.
John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,

“ Though wedded we have been
“These twice ten tedious years, yet we

“No holiday have seen.
“ To-morrow is our wedding-day,

“ And we will then repair
“Unto the Bell at Edmonton,

“ All in a chaise and pair.

“My sister, and my sister's child,

“Myself and children three, “Will fill the chaise ; so you must ride

" On horseback after we.” He soon replied, “I do admire

“Of womankind but one, “ And you are she, my dearest dear,

“Therefore it shall be done. “I am a linen-draper bold,

“ As all the world doth know, “And my good friend the Calender

“ Will lend his horse to go." Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, " That's well said;

" And for that wine is dear, “ We will be furnish'd with our own,

“Which is both bright and clear.” John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife;

O’erjoyed was he to find,
That though on pleasure she was bent,

She had a frugal mind.
The morning came, the chaise was brought,

But yet was not allow'd
To drive up to the door, lest all

that she was proud.
So three doors off the chaise was stay'd,

Where they did all get in; Six precious souls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.
Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,

Were never folks so glad,
The stones did rattle underneath,

As if Cheapside were mad.

Should say

John Gilpin at his horse's side

Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride,

But soon came down again;
For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,

His journey to begin,
When, turning round his head he saw

Three customers come in.
So down he came; for loss of time,

Although it grieved him sore;
Yet loss of pence full well he knew

Would trouble him much more. 'Twas long before the customers

Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came down stairs,

“ The wine is left behind!" “Good lack!” quoth he—“yet bring it me,

“My leathern belt likewise, " In which I bear my trusty sword,

6 When I do exercise."
Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!)

Had two stone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she loved,

And keep it safe and sound.
Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side,

To make his balance true. Then over all, that he might be

Equipp'd from top to toe, His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat,

He manfully did throw.