THE CHRISTIAN MAIDEN AND THE LJON. FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE. "Give the Christians to the lions!" was the savage Roman's cry, And the vestal virgins added their voices shrill and high; And the Cæsar gave the order, "Loose the lious from their den! For Rome must have a spectacle worthy of gods and men." Till face to face the maid and beast in opposition stand; Then forth she drew a crucifix and held it high in air. Lo, and behold! a miracle! the lion's fury fled, "God has restored to love and life his sinless, trusting child. SSSSS ON THE CHANNEL BOAT. "What! Fred, you here? I didn't see I met the Browns last week; they said "Oh, yes; I came by the Britannic; And what a rush there was for berths! "Twas almost like a panic. I'm mighty glad to meet Where are you going?" "Paris." you, Will. "Good! so am I. I've got to meet To-morrow. He and I have planned¦ Through Switzerland on foot; I hope "Take care there! hold your hat; it blows." "Yes; how this steamer tosses! I'm never sea-sick; Charley is, Though, every time he crosses. Who's with you, Will?” "I'm traveling with My sister and my mother; They're both below. I came on deck; It's close enough to smother Down there. These chaps don't care a snap For ventilation, hang 'em! Where did you stop in London? We Were stopping at the Langham.” "You were? why, so was I. But then At breakfast time, and went away And yet, within the short sojourn I lost my heart completely; Such style! such eyes! such rosy cheeks! I only saw her twice, and then Don't laugh-'twas at a distance. I ne'er before set eyes upon "Ah! that's just it; I couldn't e'en discover Her name, or anything at all To try; so off I started, And here I am, disconsolate." "All for an unknown charmer! You're soft, my boy. Let's stroll abaft,→ The sea is growing calmer, Or forward, if you like. The view May make your feelings rally. We're drawing near to France; in half An hour shall be at Calais. See! there's the town, and just this side The port with shipping in it; And there, beyond, you see the spires, And-" "Here, Will, stop a minute. By Jove! look there! that girl in gray, With red flowers in her bonnet! 1 do declare-I—yes—it's she! I'd take my oath upon it. What luck! If I had only known! How can it be I've missed her? Look! here she comes!" "Why, Fred, you fool! That girl in gray's my sister." THE REVELLERS. There were sounds of mirth and joyousness And there was many a merry laugh, And the ass was freely passed around, I have no fear-I have no fear-- And he wars but with his breath. "Cheer, comrades, cheer! We drink to Life, And we do not fear to die!" Just then a rushing sound was heard, As of spirits sweeping by; And presently the latch flew up, And the door flew open wide; And a stranger strode within the hall, With an air of martial pride. He spoke: "I join in your revelry, Bold sons of the Bacchan rite; And I drink the toast you have drank before, The pledge of yon dauntless knight. Fill high-fill high-we drink to Life, And we scorn the reaper Death; For he is a grim old gentleman, And he wars but with his breath. "He's a noble soul, that champion knight, Oh, he'll pass the gates of Paradise, He struck-and the stranger's guise fell off, And they struggled awhile, till the stranger blew And the Bacchanal fell at the phantom's feet, MRS. McWILLIAMS AND THE LIGHTNING. Well, sir,—continued Mr. McWilliams, for this was not the beginning of his talk,—the fear of lightning is one of the most distressing infirmities a human being can be afflicted with. It is mostly confined to women; but now and then you find it in a little dog, and sometimes in a man. It is a particularly distressing infirmity, for the reason that it takes the sand out of a person to an extent which no other fear can, and it can't be reasoned with, and neither can it be shamed out of a person. Well, as I was telling you, I woke up with that smothered and unlocatable cry of “Mortimer! Mortimer!" wailing in my ears; and as soon as I could scrape my faculties together I reached over in the dark and then said: "Evangeline, is that you calling? What is the matter? Where are you?" "Shut up in the boot-closet. You ought to be ashamed to lie there and sleep so, and such an awful storm going on.” "Why, how can one be ashamed when he is asleep? It is unreasonable; a man can't be ashamed when he is asleep, Evangeline." "You never try, Mortimer-you know very well you never try." I caught the sound of muffled sobs. That sound smote dead the sharp speech that was on my lips, and I changed it to "I'm sorry, dear-I'm truly sorry. I never meant to act so. Come back and " "MORTIMER!" "Heavens! what is the matter, my love?" |