And Dick, although his way was clear,
Was much too generous and sincere
To leave his friend behind.

So, settling on his cage, by play,
And chirp, and kiss, he seem'd to say,
You must not live alone -

Nor would he quit that chosen stand,
Till I, with slow and cautious hand,
Return'd him to his own.

THE FIRST SWALLOW

CHARLOTTE SMITH

HE gorse is yellow on the heath,

THE

The banks with speedwell flowers are gay,

The oaks are budding, and, beneath,

The hawthorn soon will bear the wreath,
The silver wreath, of May.

The welcome guest of settled Spring,
The swallow, too, has come at last;
Just at sunset, when thrushes sing,
I saw her dash with rapid wing,
And hail'd her as she past.

Come, summer visitant, attach

To my reed roof your nest of clay, And let my ear your music catch, Low twittering underneath the thatch At the gray dawn of day.

A

THE USEFUL PLOUGH

ANONYMOUS

COUNTRY life is sweet!

In moderate cold and heat,

To walk in the air, how pleasant and fair, In every field of wheat,

The fairest of flowers adorning the bowers, And every meadow's brow;

So that I say, no courtier may

Compare with them who clothe in gray,

And follow the useful plough.

They rise with the morning lark,

And labour till almost dark;

Then folding their sheep, they hasten to sleep,

While every pleasant park

Next morning is ringing with birds that are singing,

On each green, tender bough.

With what content and merriment

Their days are spent, whose minds are bent

To follow the useful plough.

M

ANNIE LAURIE

ANONYMOUS

AXWELTON braes are bonnie
Where early fa's the dew,
And it's there that Annie Laurie
Gie'd me her promise true,
Gie'd me her promise true;
Which ne'er forgot will be;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee.

Her brow is like the snaw-drift,
Her throat is like the swan,
Her face it is the fairest

That e'er the sun shone on,

That e'er the sun shone on;
And dark blue is her e'e;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa' o' her fairy feet;
Like the winds in summer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet,-

Her voice is low and sweet;
And she's a' the world to me;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee.

COMING THROUGH THE RYE

ANONYMOUS

IN a body meet a body

Comin' through the rye,

Gin a body kiss a body,

Need a body cry?

Every lassie has her laddie

Ne'er a ane ha'e I;

Yet a' the lads they smile at me
When comin' through the rye.
Amang the train there is a swain
I dearly lo'e mysel';

But whaur his hame, or what his name,
I dinna care to tell.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin' frae the town,
Gin a body greet a body,
Need a body frown?

Every lassie has her laddie

Ne'er a ane ha'e I;

Yet a' the lads they smile at me

When comin' through the rye. Amang the train there is a swain I dearly lo'e mysel';

But whaur his hame, or what his name,

I dinna care to tell.