rapid proficiency, improving every
opportunity of reading and conversation for acquiring knowledge: and
thus spent the winter. When Mr Maynard left the place in the spring,
he engaged a minister, who had resided about four miles from the boy's
father, to hear his recitations; and the boy accordingly boarded at
home and pursued his studies. It is unnecessary to pursue the
narrative further. Mr Maynard never saw the lad afterwards. But this
was the early history of the Rev. Jonas King, D.D., whose exertions in
the cause of Oriental learning, and in alleviating the miseries of
Greece, have endeared him alike to the scholar and the philanthropist,
and shed a bright ray of glory on his native country.
LITERARY CIRCLES OF LONDON.
The society of the literary world of London is conducted after this
wise:--There are certain persons, for the most part authors, editors,
or artists, but with the addition of a few who can only pride
themselves upon being the patrons of literature and art--who hold
periodical assemblies of the notables. Some appoint a certain evening
in every week during the season, a general invitation to which is
given to the favoured; others are monthly; and others, again, at no
regular intervals. At these gatherings, the amusements are
conversation and music only, and the entertainment is unostentatious
and inexpensive, consisting of tea and coffee, wine or negus handed
about in the course of the evening, and sandwiches, cake, and wine at
eleven o'clock. Suppers are prohibited by common consent, for
costliness would speedily put an end to society too agreeable to be
sacrificed to fashion. The company meets usually between eight and
nine, and always parts at midnight.--_The Critic_.
THE SKY-LARK'S SONG.
It comes down from the clouds to me,
On this sweet day of spring;
Methinks it is a melody
That angel-lips might sing.
Thou soaring minstrel! winged bard!
Whose path is the free air,
Whose song makes sunshine seem more bright,
And this fair world more fair!
I ask not what the strain may be,
Thus chanted at 'Heaven's gate'--
A hymn of praise, a lay of joy,
Or love-song to thy mate.
Vain were such idle questioning!
And 'tis enough for me
To feel thou singest still the notes
Which God gave unto thee.
Thence comes the glory of thy song,
And therefore doth it fall,
As falls the radiance
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