From different natures marvellously mixed,
Connection exquisite of distant worlds!
Distinguished link in Being's endless chain,
Midway from Nothing to the Deity!
A beam ethereal, sullied and absorpt!
Though sullied and dishonored, still divine!
Dim miniature of greatness absolute!
An heir of glory! a frail child of dust!
Helpless immortal! insect infinite!

A worm! a god! - I tremble at myself,
And in myself am lost. At home a stranger,
Thought wanders up and down, surprised, aghast,
And wondering at her own. How reason reels!
Oh! what a miracle to man is Man!

Triumphantly distressed! what joy! what dread!
Alternately transported and alarmed!

What can preserve my life? or what destroy?
An angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave;
Legions of angels can't confine me there!

- Night Thoughts, Night I.

Z

Z

ANGWILL, ISRAEL, an English novelist and

essayist; born at London in 1864. He received his early education at the Jewish Free School, London, and became a teacher in that institution. His ambition, however, was in the field of literature and journalism, and after teaching for two or three years he accepted a position on the Ariel, a small comic publication. He then went on the Jewish Standard, contributing personal and editorial paragraphs over the signature of "Marshallik." During his connection with the Standard he became acqauinted with the wealthier class of his co-religionists. After several years he severed his connection with the Standard, which was soon thereafter discontinued. He was associated with Harry Quilter on the Universal, and also with Jerome K. Jerome on the Idler. His chief reputation, however, rests upon his novels, his first being The Children of the Ghetto, a fine exposition of the character of the London Jew. This was followed by The Grandchildren of the Ghetto. He has also produced The Bachelors' Club (1891); The Big Bow Mystery (1891); The Old Maids' Club (1892); The King of Schnorrers (1893); The Master, a notable success (1895); Cleo the Magnificent; or The Muse of the Real (1898); They That Walk in Darkness

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(1899); The Mantle of Elijah (1900); The Grey Wig (1903); Blind Children (1904); The Celebate's Club (1904); The Serio-comic Governess (1904), and Merely Mary Ann (1904).

THE DEATH OF BENJY ANSELL.

Coleman was deeply perturbed. He was wondering whether he should plead guilty to a little knowledge, when a change of expression came over the wan face on the pillow. The doctor came and felt the boy's pulse.

"No, I don't want to hear that 'Maaseh,' cried Benjamin. "Tell me about the Sambatyon, father, which refuses to flow on Shabbos."

He spoke Yiddish, grown a child again. Moses's face lit up with joy. His eldest born had returned to intelligibility. There was hope still, then. A sudden burst of sunshine flooded the room. In London the sun would not break through the clouds for some hours. Moses leaned over the pillow, his face working with blended emotions. He let a hot tear fall on his boy's upturned face.

Hush, hush, my little Benjamin, don't cry," said Benjamin, and began to sing, in his mother's jargon:

"Sleep, little father, sleep,

Thy father shall be a Rov,

Thy mother shall bring little apples,
Blessings on thy little head."

Moses saw his dead Gittel lulling his boy to sleep. Blinded by his tears, he did not see that they were falling thick upon the little white face.

"Nay, dry thy tears, I tell thee, my little Benjamin," said Benjamin, in tones more tender and soothing, and launched into the strange wailing melody: