: Through the king's gate, unquestioned then, Me chance, at last, to see if men Life Lessons Fare better, being kings." The king sat bowed beneath his crown, "Poor man, what wouldst thou have of me?" Uprose the king, and from his head 66 Shook off the crown, and threw it by. "O man! thou must have known," he said, Through all the gates, unquestioned then, The beggar laughed. Free winds in haste Life At the king's gate, the crafty noon The guards waked one by one. "Ho there! Ho there! Has no man seen On the king's gate the moss grew gray; The king came not. They called him dead; And made his eldest son one day Slave in his father's stead. H. H. December In a drear-nighted December, The north cannot undo them, With a sleety whistle through them; In a drear-nighted December, Thy bubblings ne'er remember About the frozen time. Ah! would 'twere so with many JOHN KEATS. Life Lessons The End of the Play The play is done; the curtain drops, A moment yet the actor stops, And looks around, to say farewell. It is an irksome word and task; And, when he's laughed and said his say, He shows, as he removes the mask, A face that's anything but gay. Life Lessons One word, ere yet the evening ends, That Fate ere long shall bid you play; Come wealth or want, come good or ill, And bear it with an honest heart. A gentleman, or old or young! (Bear kindly with my humble lays ;) And peace on earth to gentle men. My song, save this, is little worth; And wish you health, and love, and mirth, As fits the solemn Christmas-tide. As fits the holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol stillBe peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will. WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. From "Dr. Birch and his Young Friends." Life Lessons A Farewell My fairest child, I have no song to give you; Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; long: And so make life, death, and that vast forever One grand, sweet song. CHARLES KINGSLEY. |