BLUCHER'S "FORWARDS!"

A BALLAD FOR THE TIMES.

BRAVO! brave old Teuton heart,
Noble "Marshal Forwards!"
Bravo! every better part,—
Nature, Providence, and Art,-
Agrees in going forwards;

If we gain, to gain the more
Pressing on to things before,

Ever marching forwards;
If we lose,-by swift attack
Soon to win those losses back

By the rule of-Forwards!

Forwards! it's the way of life
Always urging forwards,-

Be it peace, or be it strife,
Stagnant-ripe, or tempest-rife,

All is moving forwards.
Generations live and die,—
Stars are journeying on the sky
By the law of Forwards.
Space and Time, and you, and I,
And all-but God's Eternity-
Tend for ever forwards!

So, good youth, go on and win!
Conquest lives in Forwards.

Go, if once you well begin,
Steering clear of self and sin,

Forwards, ever forwards!

We say,

"Behold the little hand,

Forerunner of the storm."

But mariners, than we less dull,
Long tossed on stormy seas,
Are grateful for the moment's lull

That gives their vessel ease.

Strength with to-morrow's cares will come,

To bear them as we may;

The manna that our God hath sent

Is given for use to-day!

Pouring music like a river,

Many-toned and deep and strong,Tones 'midst which, like childhood's, quiver Thy few notes of simple song?

3

ROBINS AND THEIR SONGS.

Then the "crimson-tippèd" thing,
Like a daisy among birds,
With a quiet glee did sing

Strains condensèd thus in words:

"Well I know the joyous mazes
"Of the songs so full and fine ;—
"Very faint would be God's praises,
"Sounded by no voice but mine!

"Yet the little child's sweet laughter
"Wakes it no responsive smile,
"Though the Poet singeth after,
"And the Angels all the while?

"What I sing I cannot measure,
"Why I sing I cannot say,
"But I know a well of pleasure
"Springeth in my heart all day."

So I learned that crumbs are able
Lowly hearts to fill with song,-
Crumbs from off that Festal Table
Lowly hearts will join ere long.

He Who wintry hours hath given,
With the snows gives snowdrops birth;
And while Angels sing in heaven,
God hears robins sing on earth.

Only keep thee on the wing,

Music dieth in the dust,

Nothing that but creeps can sing,

Soaring, we can sing and trust.

L

E. C.

145

OURSELVES.

THE SPINAL MARROW AND NERVES.

THE upper part of the head is well arched and imperforate; it guards the tender substance of the brain and secures its integrity. The under-surface, or base, of the cranium, less exposed to injury, is perforated by many openings of different sizes. Through some of these the vessels pass which carry the blood to and from the brain: by others, those nerves which arise from the cerebral substance leave for their destinations among the organs of sense; the largest, called the Foramen Magnum, is immediately over the summit of the spinal column. The masonry of this column is very elaborate. It consists of twenty-four pieces, or vertebræ, built up on a strong hollow pedestal. Each piece consists of a solid body and several projections or processes. The processes fit so nicely, and overlapping check each other so effectually, that no violence, short of fracture, can separate one bone from another. The bodies of the bones are united, and yet kept separate, by a thick layer of cartilaginous cement: this, being elastic, fills up any fissure that would be produced, when we bend, or stoop, or incline to either side, if the pillar consisted only of solid materials: it diffuses too, and so mitigates, and renders innoxious, any shock received in falling, or jumping, or running, when the column is erect.* Each piece is bored through the middle, and the line of perforation is so true, that, when the bones are put together, a continuous even channel is formed, extending the whole length of the spine. On the upper and under edge of each of the vertebræ are two notches; fitting accurately with

* The late Mr. Abernethy used to say, "the head rides as if it was on a spring cushion."