He had been older than he knew.
The Parish Clerk had put a 2 "

In place of "Nought," and made his Date
Of Birth a Brace of Years too late.
When he had written Book the Last,
His true Climacteric had past!

MORAL. To estimate your Worth,
Be certain as to date of Birth.

TALES IN RHYME

THE VIRGIN WITH THE BELLS

MUCH strange is true.

And yet so much

Dan Time thereto of doubtful lays

He blurs them both beneath his touch:

In this our tale his part he plays.

At Florence, so the legend tells,

There stood a church that men would praise

(Even where Art the most excels)
For works of price; but chief for one
They called the "Virgin with the Bells."

Gracious she was, and featly done,
With crown of gold about the hair,
And robe of blue with stars thereon,

And sceptre in her hand did bear;
And o'er her, in an almond tree,
Three little golden bells there were,

Writ with Faith, Hope, and Charity.
None knew from whence she came of old,
Nor whose the sculptor's name should be