deep in the
solid earth, by the hard labor of man.

* * * * *

THE MINER.

Down where the daylight never comes
Toileth the miner on;
He sees not the golden morning break--
He sees not the setting sun.

Dimly his lamp in the dark vault burns,
And he sits on the miner's hard floor,
Toiling, toiling, toiling on;
Toiling for precious ore!

The air is wet; for the dew and rain,
Drank by the thirsty ground,
Have won their way to his dark retreat,
And are trickling all around---

And sickly vapors are near his lips,
And close to his wire-net lamp,
Unseen, as an evil spirit comes,
Up stealeth the dread fire-damp!

But the miner works on, though death is by,
And fears not the monster grim;
For the wiry gauze, round his steady light,
Makes a safety-lamp for him.

Rough and rude, and of little worth,
Seems the ore that the miner brings
From the hidden places where lie concealed
Earth's rare and precious things;

But, tried awhile in the glowing fire,
It is rough and rude no more;
Art moulds the iron, and forms the gold,
And fashions the silver ore.

And useful, rare, and beautiful things,
'Neath the hand of skill arise:
Oh! a thousand thousand human wants
The miner's toil supplies!

VISIT TO FAIRY LAND.

So, then, you want to hear some stories about the fairies, do you, little
girl? Well, I must humor you a little, I suppose; though I should not
wonder if my fairy stories were somewhat different from those you have
heard before. But have you the least idea that there were ever such beings
as the fairies in the world? If you have, let me tell you, you are quite
mistaken. The stories that have been told about these fairy people are none
of them worthy of belief, though it must be admitted that millions have
believed them. Many of the men and women who pretended to have seen the
fairies, and who related the stories in the first place, believed all they
said, I have no doubt. But they were generally ignorant persons, very
superstitious, and easily imposed upon. There are, it is true, invisible
inhabitants in this world. Those who believe the Bible, can hardly doubt
the presence of angels among us. But angels, as they are represented in the
Scriptures, are a very different class of spirits from those called
fai