"One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill, Along the heath, and near his fav'rite tree; Another came; nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he: "The next, with dirges due in sad array, Approach and read (for thou canst read) the Grav'd on the stone beneath yon agèd thorn." Life Lessons THE EPITAPH Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, He gain'd from Heav'n ('t was all he wish'd) No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his Father and his God. THOMAS GRAY. Life Lessons Polonius to Laertes And these few precepts in thy memory tongue Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar: But do not dull thy palm with entertainment ware Of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in, Bear't, that th' opposer may beware of thee. ment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy: And they in France, of the best rank and sta tion, Are of a most select and generous choice in that. Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. And it must follow, as the night the day, Life Lessons From "Hamlet." The Olive Tree Said an ancient hermit, bending Then he took a tender sapling, But he thought, the rain it needeth, "Lord, I ask for beams of summer, Then the dripping clouds divided, And the sun looked down and smiled. "Send it frost to brace its tissues, O my God!" the hermit cried. Life Lessons Then the plant was bright and hoary, Went the hermit to a brother 66 Sitting in his rocky cell: "I have planted one, and prayed, Said the other, "I entrusted To its God my little tree; "Laid I on him no condition, SABINE BARING-Gould. Coronation At the king's gate the subtle noon Through the king's gate, unquestioned then, 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 Shook off the crown, and threw it by. "O man! thou must have known," he said, "A greater king than I." Through all the gates, unquestioned then, The beggar laughed. Free winds in haste 66 Life Lessons |