 earth— Ripe fruits and laughter lying down to sleep, The shine of lighted towns, the graver worth Of beating human hearts that laugh and weep. I thank thee that as yet I need not know, Yet need not fear, the mystery of the end; But more than all, and though all these should go— Dear Lord, this on my knees!—I thank thee for my friend. RUTHLESS TIME. BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.  mockery. Take th’ instant way; For honor travels in a straightrun and trampled on. A DEED AND A WORD. BY CHARLES MACKAY. Charles Mackay was born at Perth In 1814. He was, from 1844 to 1847, the editor of the Glasgow Argus, and later of the Illustrated London News. During the civil war he was the New York correspondent for the London Times. He died at London in 1889. Several of his writings are “The Salamandrine, or Love and Immortality,” “Voices from the Crowd,” “Voices from the Mountains,” and “History of the Mormons.”. TWO LOVERS. BY GEORGE ELIOT. Mary Ann Evans was born at Warwickshire, in 1819. She received her education at Nuneaton, and also at Coventry. In 1851 she was given the position of assistant editor on the “Westminster Review,” which she held until 1853. In the following year she entered into a domestic and philosophical partnership with George Henry Lewes. Two years after his death she married John Walter Cross, a man much younger than herself. After her death her husband published her memoirs. She died at Chelsea, London, in 1880. Though shunned by the women of her acquaintance, Eliot was courted by the greatest philosophers of her time.! DRIFTING. BY THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. Thomas Buchanan Read, artist and poet, was born in 1822 and died in 1872. His youth was spent in poverty and he earned a miserable existence at tailoring and cigar-making. He played on the stage and took to painting in oils. His work attracted interest and he opened a studio. About the same time he began writing, alternating the brush with the pen. His best-known poems are “Sheridan’s Ride” and “Drifting.” He published a volume of poetry and two of prose. His pictures include portraits of Longfellow, Dallas, Ex-Queen of Naples, Mrs. Browning and “The Lost Pleiad,” “The Star of Bethlehem,” “Spirit of the Waterfall,” and “Sheridan’s Ride.” My soul todayoling with the gamboling kid; Or down the walls, With tipsy calls, Laugh on the rocks like waterfalls. The fisher’s child With tresses wild, Unto the smooth, bright sand beguiled, With glowing lips, Sings as she skips, Or gazes at the far-off ships. Yon deep bark goes Where Traffic blows, From lands of sun to lands of snows; This happier one Its course has run From lands of snow to lands of sun. O happy ship, To rise and dip, With the blue crystal at your lip! O happy crew, My heart with you Sails, and sails, and sings anew! No more, no more The worldy shore Upbraids me with its loud uproar! With dreamful eyes My spirit lies Under the walls of Paradise! DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER. BY GEORGE H. BOKER. George Henry Boker, the American poet, was born in Philadelphia in 1823, and died there in 1890. He was educated at Princeton, and studied law, but never practiced. In 1871 he was made Minister Resident to Turkey, and from 1875 to 1879 he was Minister to Russia. He wrote several volumes of verse and the tragedies “Francesca da Rimini,” “Anne Boleyn,” and “Leonore de Guzman.” might, Sleep for ever and forever.! EVENING SONG. BY SIDNEY LANIER. Sidney Lanier was born at Macon, Ga., in 1842. On account of ill health he went to Baltimore, where for a while he played the flute in the famous Peabody concerts—he was passionately fond of music and brought marvelous harmonies out of his flute. In 1879 he became lecturer in English literature at the Johns Hopkins university, Baltimore. He died at Lynn, N. C., in 1881. He wrote a novel, “Tiger Lilies,” “Centennial Ode,” “Science of English Verse,” “The English Novel and Its Development,” and a volume of poems. thy hand in mine. Come forth, sweet stars, and comfort heaven’s heart; Glimmer, ye waves, round else unlighted sands. O, night! divorce our sun and sky apart, Never our lips our hands. THE BRIDGE. BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. The poems of this well-loved poet are the stepping stones by which every American child ascends to the realm of poetry. shadow shall appear, As the symbol of love in heaven, And its wavering image here. SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, LIKE THE NIGHT. SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT ON HIGH. BY JOSEPH ADDISON. Joseph Addison was born at Milston in 1672. He went to Queen’s College, Oxford; after he finished his course he traveled on the continent, studying for the diplomatic service. Returning, he held the position of Secretary of State, 1706–’8, and until a year of his death held different political positions. He wrote, besides his famous contributions to the Tatler, and Spectator, “The Campaign,” a treatise on Medals, a “Letter from Italy,” and one play worthy the name, “Cato.” He died at London in 17.” LUCY.! AN EMPEROR’S DAUGHTER STANDS ALONE. BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER. Geoffrey Chaucer, often called the father of English verse, was born some time after 1340, served with Edward III. in the French campaigns and was imprisoned in France. He was on an embassy to Genoa in 1372, met Petrarch, and got from him the tale of Griselda and other Italian legends. On his return he occupied various positions of trust, principally of a diplomatic nature. His last days were spent in obscurity. He died in London in 1400, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His “Canterbury Tales,” founded for the most part upon the same stories that Boccaccio and other writers had made famous in prose, are almost the first evidence of the influence of the Italian Renaissance upon English literature. He wrote many detached pieces as well, although his reputation rests largely upon the “Tales.” He had not only the true poetic instinct, but a deep knowledge and intense love of nature, and he gave a great inspiration to the writers of the golden age which followed his own. As Tennyson says of him in “A Dream of Fair Women:” “_Dan Chaucer_, _the first warbler whose sweet breath_ _Preluded those melodious bursts that fill_ _The spacious times of great Elizabeth_ _With sounds that echo still_.” Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face Among a press, of hym that hath be lad Toward his deeth, where as hym gat no grace? And swich a colour in his face hath had, Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad, Amonges alle the faces in that route; So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute. O, queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee! Duchesses, and ladyes everichone! Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee. An Emperoures doghter stant allone; She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone! O, blood roial, that stondest in this drede, Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede! This Alla, kyng, hath swich compassioun, As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, That from hise shall been our justise.” A Briton book written with Evaungiles Was fet, and on this book he swore anoon She gilty was, and in the meene whiles An hand hym smoot upon the nekke boon, That doun he fil atones as a stoon; And bothe hise eyen broste out of his face In sighte of every body in that place! A voys was herd in general audience And seyde, “Thou has desclaundred, giltlees, The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence; Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees.” Of this mervaille agast was al the prees; As mazed folk they stoden everichone, For drede of wreche, save Custance allone. Greet was the drede, and eek the repentance, Of hem that hadden wronge suspecioun Upon this sely, innocent Custance; And for this miracle, in conclusion, And by Custance’s mediacioun, The Kyng, and many another in that place Converted was—thanked be Christes grace! DELIGHT IN DISORDER. BY ROBERT HERRICK. It is in such poems as the following one that Her