All the apples laughed to hear her: Larger grew they every day, Like the streaks upon the tulip, And the people at the farmhouse, Now the tree, her look so lively, Robin's empty nest was there. Hour by hour the leaves were dropping, White-winged hen and kingly rooster In the barn, on beam or rafter, More at ease their slumber took. Bravely stood the tree and cheery, Though so gray and leafless grown; Hopeful still, but very lonely, Ev'n the empty nest blown down. When the winter snowdrifts covered March! And now the frozen raindrops Then at last, with soft embraces, Bravely should we meet our troubles, THE BRAHMIN AND THE ROGUE THOMAS B. MACAULAY A PIOUS Brahmin, it is written, made a vow, that on a certain day he would sacrifice a sheep, and, on the appointed morning, he went forth to buy one. There lived in his neighborhood three rogues, who knew of his vow, and laid a scheme for profiting by it. The first met him and said: "Oh, Brahmin, wilt thou buy a sheep? I have one fit for sacrifice." "It is for that very purpose, said the holy man, "that I came forth this day." Then the impostor opened a bag, and brought out of it an unclean beast, an ugly dog, lame and blind. 66 Thereon the Brahmin cried out: "Wretch, who touchest things impure, and utterest things untrue, callest thou that cur a sheep?” 'Truly," answered the other, "it is a sheep of the finest fleece, and of the sweetest flesh. Oh, Brahmin, it will be an offering most acceptable to the gods." "Friend," said the Brahmin, "either thou or I must be blind." "Praised be Just then one of the accomplices came up. the gods," said the second rogue, “that I have been saved the trouble of going to the market for a sheep! This is such a sheep as I wanted. For how much wilt thou sell it?" When the Brahmin heard this, his mind waved to and fro like one swinging in the air at a holy festival. Sir," said he to the newcomer, "take heed what thou dost; this is no sheep, but an unclean cur." "Oh, Brahmin," said the newcomer, "thou art drunk or mad." 66 "Let us At this time the third confederate drew near. ask this man," said the Brahmin, "what the creature is, and I will stand by what he shall say." To this the others agreed; and the Brahmin called out, "Oh, stranger, what dost thou call this beast?" "Surely, oh, Brahmin," said the knave," it is a fine sheep." Then said the Brahmin, "Surely the gods have taken away my senses,” — and he asked pardon of him who carried the dog, and bought it for a measure of rice and a pot of ghee,1 and offered it up to the gods, who, being wroth at this unclean sacrifice, smote him with a sore disease in all his joints. 1 Ghee Butter that has been clarified by boiling, straining, and skimming until it becomes a semi-solid oil capable of being kept many years. It is largely used in India in cookery, medicine, and religious rites. Thus, or nearly thus, if we remember rightly, runs the story of the Sanscrit Esop. The moral, like the moral of every fable that is worth telling, lies on the surface. The writer evidently means to caution us against the practices of puffers, a class of people who have more than once talked the public into the most absurd errors. HEPHERDS all, and maidens fair, 'Gins to thicken, and the sun Already his great course hath run. Damps and vapors fly apace, And let your dogs lie loose without, So you shall good shepherds prove, And forever hold the love Of our great god. Sweetest slumbers, And soft silence, fall in numbers On your eyelids! So, farewell! Thus I end my evening's knell. THE GRASS EMILY DICKINSON THE grass so little has to do,— With only butterflies to brood, And bees to entertain, |