l latticed
windows--all charmed us. We moved in an ancient world, conversed with
ghosts of a long-past age; the shades of those who had left behind them
so much of the artistic and the excellent; who had, in their day and
hour, lived and breathed and moved even as the world of to-day--had been
animated with the same thoughts and emotions; in a word, had fulfilled
their lot and passed through their birthright of sorrow and suffering.

It was late before we could turn away from the fascination. After the
crowded scenes of the day, we seemed surrounded by the very silence and
repose, the majesty of Death. Everyone had retired to rest; the curfew
had long tolled, and the fires were nearly all out. Only here and there
a lighted lattice spoke of a late watcher, who perhaps was searching for
the philosopher's stone or the elixir of life, wherewith to turn the
grey hairs of age to the flowing locks of youth--the feeble gait of one
stricken in years to the vigour and comeliness of manhood. Vain wish!
and needless; for why will they not look at life in its truer aspect,
and feel that the nearer they approach to death the younger they are
growing?

MY MAY-QUEEN

(_AEtat_ 4).

Come, child, that I may make
A primrose wreath to crown thee Queen of Spring!
Of thee the glad birds sing;
For thee small flowers fling
Their lives abroad; for thee--for Dorothea's sake!

Hasten! For I must pay
Due homage to thee, have thy Royal kiss,
Our thrush shall sing of this;
--In many a bout of bliss
Tell how I crown'd thee Queen, Spring's Queen, this glad May-day.

JOHN JERVIS BERESFORD, M.A.

SWEET NANCY.

Shenton was a dull and sleepy village at the best of times; but then it
was situated so far from any town. Exboro' was the nearest, and that was
ten miles away. To reach it you must traverse a range of pine-clad
hills, descending now and again into cool valleys, full of sweet scents
and sounds in summer, but dreary enough in winter, when the snow lay
thick and the wind whistled through the leafless branches.

Shenton consisted of one long street, terminating in a green on which
the church and school-house stood. After that there were no more houses
till you reached Exboro', excepting a few scattered farms a mile or two
away at Braley Brook. There was also a large farm, known as the Manor,
half-a-mile in the opposite direction, occupied by one Jacob Hurst, who
was the