THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. (ALFRED TENNYSON.) Half a league, half a league, "Forward the Light Brigade !" Cannon to right of them, Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well; Into the jaws of Death, Rode the Six Hundred. Flashed all their sabres bare, All the world wondered: Plunged in the battery smoke, Reeled from the sabre stroke, Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not— Cannon to right of them, Volleyed and thundered; When can their glory fade? Honour the charge they made! Noble Six Hundred ! By permission of Messrs Strahan & Co. THE FROLICSOME DUKE; OR, THE TINKER'S GOOD FORTUNE. Now as fame does report, a young duke keeps a court, Which will make you to smile when you hear the true jest: A poor tinker he found, lying drunk on the ground, The duke said to his men, "William, Richard, and Ben, Then they stript off his clothes, both his shirt, shoes, and hose, And they put him to bed, there to take his repose. Having pull'd off his shirt, which was all over dirt, Now he lay something late in his rich bed of state, Though he seem'd something mute, yet he chose a rich suit, Which he straightway put on without longer dispute; wife? “Where's Joan, my sweet Sure she never did see me so fine in her life." From a snug hiding-place, the right duke's good grace To a garden of state, on the tinker they wait, Trumpets sounding before him-(thinks he, "This is great")— Where an hour, or p'raps two, pleasant walks he did view, With squires and commanders in scarlet and blue. Fine dinners they drest for him and each guest, In a rich chair or bed, lin'd with fine crimson red, As he sat at his meat the music play'd sweet, While the tinker did dine, he had plenty of wine— Like a right honest soul, faith, he took off his bowl, From his chair to the floor, where he sleeping did snore, Then the duke did ordain they should strip him amain, The night's glory to him so pleasant did seem, That he thought he had had but a beautiful dream; Till at length he was brought to the duke, where he sought For a pardon, in fear he had set him at nought; But his highness just said, "Thou'rt a jolly bold blade, Such a frolic before I think never was play'd. Then his highness bespoke him a new suit and cloak, Then the tinker replied, "What! shall Joan, my sweet bride, Be a lady, in chariots of pleasure to ride? Shall we have gold and land ev'ry day at command ? Then a squire I shall be, you may well understand: And I thank your good grace for this very good place, Oh! I ne'er before was in so happy a case.' THE DEATH OF LITTLE NELL. (CHARLES DICKENS.) She was dead. No sleep so beautiful and calm, so free from trace of pain, so fair to look upon. She seemed a creature fresh from the hand of God, and waiting for the breath of life; not one who had lived, and suffered death. Her couch was dressed with here and there some winterberries and green leaves, gathered in a spot she had been used to favour. "When I die, put near me something that has loved the light, and had the sky above it always." These were her words. She was dead. Dear, gentle, patient, noble Nell was dead. Her little bird-a poor, slight thing, the pressure of a finger would have crushed- -was stirring nimbly in its cage; and the strong heart of its child-mistress was mute and motionless forever! Where were the traces of her early cares, her sufferings and fatigues? All gone. Sorrow was dead, indeed, in her; but peace and perfect happiness were born-imaged in her tranquil beauty and profound repose. And still her former self lay there, unaltered in this change. Yes, the old fireside had smiled upon that same sweet face; it had passed like a dream through haunts of misery and care-at the door of the poor schoolmaster on the summer evening, before the furnace fire upon the cold wet night, at the still bedside of the dying boy, there had been the same mild and lovely look. So shall we know the angels in their majesty after death. The old man held one languid arm in his, and the small tight hand folded to his breast for warmth. It was the hand she had stretched out to him with her last smile |