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SUMMER SONG.

I saw the last rose of the waning year;
Blood-red she stood in all her bravery;
And, lingering, I seemed the doom to hear :
In life so far is unto death too nigh!

No breath was stirring through the sultry dayOnly a butterfly with wings outspread;

Although its fluttering scarce the air could sway, The rose yet felt it and her petals shed.

FRIEDRICH HEBBEL.—Sommerlied.

INNOCENCE.

'Love is an infant full of guile ’— 'Twas thus my mother spake

'Despite his gentle air and smile, Avoid him like a snake !'

And yet it puzzles me

From such a child as he

What harm a girl can take.

'Twas but to-day young Hylas came,

And in Evadne's ear,

With trembling lips and eyes of flame,

Described a god so dear—

So full of joy and truth

The very god forsooth

Who caused my mother's fear !

To do away with all my doubt,

Lysander I'll employ ;

Together we'll seek Cupid out,

Nor breathe a word to annoy
Mamma; and should Love try

His very naughtiest, why,
We're two against a boy.

BOUFFLERS.-L'Amour.

THE MAGIC LANTERN.

'MAGIC lanterns for ever!' cried I,
When my years were a dozen or so ;
How the figures hop, stumble, and fly!
How brightly the colours all glow!

How rude of the showman to say

Before one has time to explore: "Now look at them well while you may; Very soon you will see them no more!"

I have long learnt to lay to my heart

The words that could then rouse my gall;

To the man who reflects they impart

A lesson 'tis well to recall :

Life's gew-gaws, so tempting and gay—

All the objects by which we set store—

Now look at them well while you may;

Very soon you will see them no more!

There is Gércourt, whom luck still befriends
At roulette, and écarté, and dice;
Could you only secure the same ends,

You would gamble, like him, in a trice.
You're jealous in watching him play,

As he doubles his gains o'er and o'er : Now look at them well while you may; Very soon you will see them no more!

In the midst of his parasite band,

Who can vie with the wealthy Mondor?

He knows that a failure, well-planned,

Will leave him more rich than before ;

The dupes he has promised to pay

Cent. per cent. may lament and implore:

Now look at them well while you may;

Very soon you will see them no more!

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