When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gaz'd upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the part to make it well?

My mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,
To love God's holy word and day,
And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?
My mother.

And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who wast so very kind to me,

My mother?

O no! the thought I cannot bear;
And, if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,

My mother.

When thou art feeble, old and grey,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay;
And I will sooth thy pains away,
My mother.

And when I see thee hang thy head,
"Twill be my turn to watch thy bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My mother.

The Cameleon.

Two travellers of a certain cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd,
And, on their way, in friendly chat,
Now talk'd of this, and then of that

;

H 2

Discours'd awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the Cameleon's form and nature:-
"A stranger animal," cries one,
"Sure never liv'd beneath the sun :
"A lizard's body, lean and long;
"A fish's head; a serpent's tongue :
"Its foot with triple claw disjoin'd,
"And what a length of tail behind!
"How slow its pace! and then its hue,
"Who ever saw so fine a blue ?"
"Hold there," the other quick replies:
""Tis green-I saw it with these eyes,
"As late with open mouth it lay,
"And warm'd it in the sunny ray;
"Stretch'd at its ease, the beast I view'd,
"And saw it eat the air for food."

"I've seen it, sir, as well as you ;
"And must again affirm it blue :
"At leisure I the beast survey'd,
"Extended in the cooling shade."
""Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I assure ye."
"Green!" cries the other in a fury:

66

Why, sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes ?"
""Twere no great loss," the friend replies;
"For if they always serve you thus,
"You'll find them but of little use."

So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows;
When luckily came by a third-
To him the question they referr'd;
And begg'd he'd tell them, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue?

"Sirs," cries the umpire, " cease your pother"The creature's neither one nor t'other:

"I caught the animal last night,

"And view'd it o'er by candle light:

“I mark'd it well; 'twas black as jet: "You stare! but, sirs, I've got it yet, "And can produce it."-" Pray, sir, do; "I'll lay my life the thing is blue :" "And I'll engage, that when you've seen "The reptile, you'll pronounce him green." "Well, then, at once to ease the doubt," Replies the man, "I'll turn him out; "And when before your eyes I've set him, "If you don't find him black, I'll eat him." He said, then full before their sight Produced the beast, and lo-'twas white! Both stared; the man look'd wondrous wise: "My children," the cameleon cries,

(Then first the creature found a tongue,) "You all are right, and all are wrong: "When next you talk of what you view, "Think others see as well as you; "Nor wonder, if you find, that none "Prefers your eyesight to his own."

The Youth and the Philosopher.

A GRECIAN youth of talents rare,
Whom Plato's philosophic care
Had form'd for virtue's nobler view,
By precept and example too,

Would often boast his matchless skill,
To curb the steed, and guide the wheel;
And as he pass'd the gazing throng,
With graceful ease, and smack'd the thong,
The idiot-wonder they express'd,

Was praise and transport to his breast.

At length, quite vain, he needs would show

His master what his art could do;

And bade his slaves the chariot lead
To Academus' sacred shade.

The trembling grove confess'd its fright,
The wood-nymphs started at the sight;
The muses dropp'd the learned lyre,
And to their inmost shades retire.
Howe'er, the youth, with forward air,
Bows to the sage, and mounts the car.
The lash resounds, the coursers spring,
The chariot marks the rolling ring;
And gathering crowds, with eager eyes,
And shouts, pursue him as he flies.
Triumphant to the goal return'd,
With nobler thirst his bosom burn'd;
And now along the indented plain
The self-same track he marks again,
Pursues with care the nice design,
Nor ever deviates from the line.
Amazement seiz'd the circling crowd;
The youths with emulation glow'd;
Ev'n bearded sages hail'd the boy;
And all but Plato gaz'd with joy.
For he, deep-judging sage, beheld
With pain the triumphs of the field;
And when the charioteer drew nigh,
And, flush'd with hope, had caught his eye,
"Alas! unhappy youth," he cry'd,
"Expect no praise from me," (and sigh'd.)
"With indignation I survey

Such skill and judgement thrown away:
The time profusely squander'd there,
On vulgar arts beneath thy care,
If well employ'd, at less expense,
Had taught thee honour, virtue, sense;
And rais'd thee from a coachman's fate
To govern men, and guide the state."

MISCELLANY.

The Arabic and Roman Manner of Numbering.

Arabic. Roman.| Arabic. Roman. | Arabic. Roman. Arabic. Roman.

1.

I. 11.

XI. 10.

X. 100.

C.

M.

Note 1.-The Arabs, in numbering, made use of these ten characters, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.—The last of these, a cipher, (which has no value by itself), being put after another figure, increases the value of that figure tenfold; and any significant figure being put after another significant figure, not only raises the value of the figure after which it is placed tenfold, but also adds its own value to the sum.

Note 2.-The Romans, in numbering, made use of the letters I, V, X, L, C, D, M.-Any of the letters, I, X, C, M, being doubled, increases the value twofold, and being tripled, increases the value threefold. A less number being put before a greater number, indicates, that the greater is diminished by the less number; but being put after a greater number, indicates, that the greater is increased by the less number.

Note 3.-A number is said to be even or odd, according as it can or cannot be divided by two, without a remainder.-The even numbers are, 2, 4, 6, 8, and any number ending with one of these figures or a cipher. The odd numbers are, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and any number ending with one of these figures.