Bearing His cross, while Christ passed forth forlorn,
His God-like forehead by the mock crown torn,
A little bird took from that crown one thorn. To soothe the dear Redeemer's throbbing head,
That bird did what she could; His blood 'tis said,
Down dropping, dyed her tender bosom red.
Since then no wanton boy disturbs her nest;
Weasel nor wild cat will her young molest;
All sacred deem the bird of ruddy breast.
HOSKYNS-ABRAHALL-The Redbreast.
A Briton Legend. In English
Lyrics.
The sobered robin, hunger-silent now,
Seeks cedar-berries blue, his autumn cheer.
d. LOWELL-An Indian Summer Reverie.
Poor robin, driven in by rain-storms wild
To lie submissive under household hands
With beating heart that no love understands,
And scared eye, like a child
Who only knows that he is all alone
And summer's gone.
e. D. M. MULOCK-Summer Gone. St. 2.
On fair Brittannia's isle, bright bird,
A legend strange is told of thee,-
'Tis said thy blithesome song was hushed
While Christ toiled up Mount Calvary,
Bowed 'neath the sins of all mankind;
And humbled to the very dust
By the vile cross, while viler man
Mocked with a crown of thorns the Just.
Pierced by our sorrows, and weighed down
By our transgressions,-faint, and weak,
Crushed by an angry Judge's frown,
And agonies no word can speak,
'Twas then, dear bird, the legend says
That thou, from out His crown, didst tear
The thorns, to lighten the distress,
And ease the pain that he must bear,
While pendant from thy tiny beak
The gory points thy bosom pressed,
And crimsoned with thy Saviour's blood
The sober brownness of thy breast!
Since which proud hour for thee and thine, As an especial sign of grace
God pours like sacramental wine
Red signs of favor o'er thy race!
DELLE W. NORTON-To the Robin
When Jesus hung upon the cross
The birds, 'tis said, bewailed the loss
Of Him who first to mortals taught,
Guiding with love the life of all,
And heeding e'en the sparrows' all.
But, as old Swedish legends say,
Of all the birds upon that day,
The swallow felt the deepest grief,
And longed to give her Lord relief,
And chirped when any near would come,
'Hugswala swala swal honom!'
Meaning, as they who tell it deem,
Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him!
n. LELAND The Swallow.
I am old, so old, I can write a letter;
My birthday lessons are done;
The lambs play always, they know no better;
They are only one times one.
Believing hear, what you deserve to hear:
Your birthday, as my own, to me is dear.
Blest and distinguish'd days! which we
should prize
The first, the kindest, bounty of the skies.
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend
Me to the world, yours gave to me a friend.
1. MARTIAL-IX. 53.
Every anniversary of a birthday is the dis-
pelling of a dream.
m. ZSCHOKKE.
'Tis not for mortals always to be blest.
ገ. ARMSTRONG-Act of Preserving Health.
Bk. IV. Line 260.
JEAN INGELOW--Songs of Seven.
Blessings star forth forever; but a curse
Is like a cloud-it passes.
Seven Times One.
0. BAILEY-Festus. Sc. Hades.
Show me your nest with the young ones in it;
I will not steal them away;
I am old! you may trust me, linnet, linnet-
I am seven times one to-day.
i. JEAN INGELOW-Songs of Seven.
Seven Times One.
Is he whose heart is the home of the great
dead,
And their great thoughts.
p. BAILEY-Festus. Sc. A Village Feast. God bless you! I have nothing to tell, sir. .. CANNING The Friend of Humanity and the Knife-G in ler.
For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, And though a late, a sure reward succeeds. 7. CONGREVE-The Mourning Bride.
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