LESSON VI. SPECTACLES, OR HELPS TO READ. 1. A CERTAIN artist-I've forgot his name— Or "helps to read," as, when they first were sold, And, for all uses to be had from glass, His were allowed by readers to surpass. 2. There came a man into his shop one day"Are you the spectacle contriver, pray' ?" Yes, sir," said he; "I can in that affair And book produced, to see how they would fit: Asked how he liked 'em'? "Like 'em'? not a bit." 3. "Then, sir, I fancy, if you please to try, These in my hand will better suit your eye'." "No', but they don't'." "Well, come, sir, if you please, Here is another sort', we'll e'en try these'; Still somewhat more they magnify the letter'; 66 Now, sir' ?" Why, now-I'm not a bit the better'." "No'? here, take these, that magnify still more; How do they fit' ?" "Like all the rest before." 4. In short, they tried a whole assortment through, But all in vain, for none of 'em would do. The operator, much surprised to find So odd a case, thought, sure the man is blind! And so he left the maker in a heat, L BYROM. 1. You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; 2. There's many a black black eye, they say, but none so bright as mine; There's Margaret and Mary, there's Kate and Caroline: But none so fair as little Alice in all the land they say, So I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o' the May. 3. I sleep so sound all night, mother, that I shall never wake, If you do not call me loud when the day begins to break: 4. As I came up the valley, whom think ye should I see, But Robin leaning on the bridge beneath the hazel-tree? He thought of that sharp look, mother, I gave him yesterday But I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o' the May. 5. They say he's dying all for love, but that can never be: For I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o' the May. 6. Little Effie shall go with me to-morrow to the green, And you'll be there too, mother, to see me made the Queen; For the shepherd-lads on every side will come from far away And I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o' the May. 7. If you're waking, call me early, call me early, mother dear, For I would see the sun rise upon the glad New-year: It is the last New-year that I shall ever see, Then you may lay me low in the mould, and think no more of me. 8. To-night I saw the sun set: he set and left behind The good old year, the dear old time, and all my peace of mind; 9. Last May we made a crown of flowers; we had a merry day: 10. There's not a flower on all the hills: the frost is on the pane: I wish the snow would melt, and the sun come out on high: 11. The building rook will caw3 from the windy tall elm-tree, And the tufted plover pipe along the fallow lea,5 And the swallow will come back again with summer o'er the wave- 12. When the flowers come again, mother, beneath the waning light 15. Good-night, good-night, when I have said good-night for evermore, 16. She'll find my garden-tools upon the granary floor: Let her take them: they are hers: I shall never garden more: 17. Good-night, sweet mother: call me before the day is born. But I would see the sun rise upon the glad New-year, CONCLUSION. 18. I thought to pass away before, and yet alive I am; And in the fields all round I hear the bleating of the lamb. And blessings on his whole life long, until he meet me there! 21. He show'd me all the mercy, for he taught me all the sin: 22. O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a glow; 23. O sweet and strange it seems to me, that, ere this day is done, And what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado? 24. Forever and forever, all in a blessed home And there to wait a little while till you and Effie come; To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your breast And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 1 COPSE, & Wood of small growth. 2 CHARLES'S WAIN, a constellation or group of fixed stars. C4w, to cry like a crow, rook, or raven. TENNYSON. 14 FAL'-LOW, left unsowed or untilled after plowing. 5 LEA, meadow or sward land. 6 WOLD, a wood; sometimes a plain. 7 MIGN-ON-NETTE' (min-yon-et'), a plant. |