ensued a delicious burst of young, glad voices, and rich,
sweet instruments; but, as a shadow to reality, as man to those immortal
and spotless beings, so to _their_ glorious Paean is the subsequent
faint memory of

THE ELFIN TRIUMPHAL SONG.

Beautiful! beautiful!--On they float
Those lyre-like bells--a soul in each note,
A tongue in each tone of the elfin chime,
To carol the bliss of our fadeless clime.

Beautiful! beautiful!--halcyon rest
Breathe they to the weary, woe-worn breast;
Lost in their song is the dream of Earth's dree,
Companion dear! and they're singing for thee.

Beautiful! beautiful!--thou shalt feel
Their eloquent music from thee steal
Those darkling thoughts, that should mournfully twine
With the light, the life, and the joy--_now_ thine.

Beautiful! beautiful!--each glad bell
Sings to thy soul--'Thou hast borne thee well:
The toil, the strife, and the tempest are o'er,
And thy rest is won--on the Deathless Shore.'

M.L.B.

* * * * *

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

* * * * *

MR. HUNT, M.P. FOR PRESTON.

(_From Speakers and Speeches in Parliament, in the New Monthly
Magazine._)

Feb. 3. Mr. Hunt.--I was particularly curious to witness the _debut_
of the Hon. Member for Preston, in an assembly so little accustomed, as
that so long misnamed the House of Commons, to such an out-and-outer of
the Demos coming between the wind and their nobility--to see whether any
_gaucherie_ of manner would betray an uneasy consciousness of his
not being quite at ease among those scions of aristocracy, who occupy
benches originally intended for the virtual representatives of the
people. Mr. Hunt, on the whole, bore himself well; and, by a total
absence of affectation, of either tone or manner--that surest test of
the gentleman, at least of Nature's forming--disappointed his audience
of their ready smiles at demagogue vulgarity. But once, and that for a
moment, did his self-possession seem to fail him while going through the
ceremonies preceding a new member's taking his seat. After the member
has signed his name and taken the oaths, he is formally introduced by
the Clerk of the House to the Speaker, who usually greets the new
trespasser on his patience by a shake of the hands. This ceremony is in
general performed by the present Speaker with a gloved hand towards
those not particularly distinguis