"But he had such a smiling way, And a blue and sunny eye;

And my heart was like a heart of wax
Whenever my boy was by.

And no matter what he wished for,
Nor where he wanted to go;
Try as hard as ever I would,
never could say him no.

"He grew a bit wild and thoughtless,
And wouldn't settle down:
He laughed at his mother's chidings,
Nor heeded his father's frown.
At last his father grew angry,
And they had a word or two;
Ah, neighbor, how for a life-time
A word or two we may rue!

"And so one day he left us—

Ah, my darling, handsome lad
I never could say, good neighbor,
That ever he did aught bad.
He was very quick, but noble;
And wayward, but loving too;
The fault was mostly on our side,-
I say this 'twixt me and you.

"I'm glad I've said this much to you,
For, neighbor, you cannot know
What 'tis to have a sorrow like mine,
Nor say a word as you go.

I feel a little ease of heart,

Though you have said not a word,―

Just listen a minute, neighbor,

Was that a step that I heard?

"Perhaps I am growing childish, For at times it comes to me

That one day my boy will come again,
The boy I long to see.

I must have been weak and faulty,
But Christ hath long forgiven,
And all my pray'rs for my wand'rer
Are treasured up in heaven.

"His father never looked the same,
But stooped and grew quite gray;
As for me, my grief keeps vigil
Since the day he went away.

Just fifteen years-a long, long time!-
My good neighbor, what was that?

I thought above the garden fence
I just saw a well-worn hat.

"Stand out of my light, dear neighbor!
Oh, surely I hear a sound!

The latch of the gate seems lifted,
Can it be the lost is found?
O neighbor, I'm worn and weary!
I wonder if this could be

My long-lost boy come home again,
Come back to his home and me.'

The latch of the gate was lifted,
And gently let fall again-

A bearded man with boyhood's eyes'
Came into the sunlight then,
And he pushed aside the neighbor-
How strange she felt no alarms!—
And he lifted his grey old mother

Right up in his two strong arms;
And she sobbed upon his shoulder;
"Ah, the heart doth know its own!
For lo! my boy is back again-

My boy who went from home."

MERCY.-SHAKSPEARE.

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
"Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power
Th' attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,-
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer should teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

UNION LINKED WITH LIBERTY.-ANDREW JACKSON.

Without Union, our independence and liberty would never have been achieved; without Union, they can never be maintained. Divided into twenty-four, or even a smaller number of separate communities, we shall see our internal trade burdened with numberless restraints and exactions; communication between distant points and sections obstructed, or cut off; our sons made soldiers, to deluge with blood the fields they now till in peace; the mass of our people borne down and impoverished by taxes to support armies and navies; and military leaders, at the head of their victorious legions, becoming our lawgivers and judges. The loss of liberty, of all good government, of peace, plenty, and happiness, must inevitably follow a dissolution of the Union. In supporting it therefore, we support all that is dear to the freeman and the philanthropist.

The time at which I stand before you is full of interest. The eyes of all nations are fixed on our Republic. The event of the existing crisis will be decisive, in the opinion of mankind, of the practicability of our Federal system of Government. Great is the stake placed in our hands; great is the responsibility which must rest upon the people of the United States. Let us realize the importance of the attitude in which we stand before the world, Let us exercise forbearance and firmness. Let us extricate our country from the dangers which surround it, and learn wisdom from the lessons they inculcate. Deeply impressed with the truth of these observations, and under the obligation of that solemn oath which I am about to take, I shall continue to exert all my faculties to maintain the just powers of the Constitution, and to transmit unimpaired to posterity the blessings of our Federal Union.

At the same time it will be my aim to inculcate, by my official acts, the necessity of exercising, by the General Government, those powers only that are clearly delegated; to encourage simplicity and economy in the expenditures of the Government; to raise no more money from the people than may be requisite for these objects, and in a manner that will

best promote the interests of all classes of the community, and of all portions of the Union. Constantly bearing in mind that, in entering into society, "individuals must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest," it will be my desire so to discharge my duties as to foster with our brethren, in all parts of the country, a spirit of liberal concession and compromise; and, by reconciling our fellow-citizens to those partial sacrifices which they must unavoidably make, for the preservation of a greater good, to recommend our invaluable Government and Union to the confidence and affections of the American people. Finally, it is my most fervent prayer to that Almighty Being before whom I now stand, and who has kept us in his hands from the infancy of our Republic to the present day, that he will so overrule all my intentions and actions, and inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens, that we may be preserved from dangers of all kinds, and continue forever a UNITED AND HAPPY PEOPLE.

TIM TWINKLETON'S TWINS.-CHARLES A. BELL,

Tim Twinkleton was, I would have you to know,
A cheery-faced tailor, of Pineapple Row;
His sympathies warm as the irons he used,
And his temper quite even, because not abused.

As a fitting reward for his kindness of heart,

He was blessed with a partner both comely and smart,
And ten "olive branches,"-four girls and six boys-
Completed the household, divided its joys.

But another "surprise" was in store for Tim T.,
Who, one bright Christmas morning was sipping coffee,
When a neighbor (who acted as nurse,) said with glee,
You've just been presented with twins! Do you see?”
“Good gracious!" said Tim, overwhelmed with surprise,
For he scarce could be made to believe his own eyes;
His astonishment o'er, he acknowledged of course
That the trouble, indeed, might have been a deal worse.

The twins were two boys, and poor Tim was inclined
To believe them the handsomest pair you could find,

But fathers' and mothers' opinions, they say
Always favor their own children just the same way.
"Would you like to step up, sir, to see Mrs. T.?".
The good lady said; "she's as pleased as can be."
Of course the proud father dropp'd both fork and knife,
And bounded up stairs to embrace his good wife.

Now, Mrs. Tim Twinkleton-I should have said-
An industrious, frugal life always had led,
And kept the large family from poverty's woes,
By washing, and starching, and ironing clothes.
But, before the young twins had arrived in the town,
She'd intended to send to a family named Brown,
Who resided some distance outside of the city,
A basket of clothes; so she thought it a pity

That the basket should meet any further delay,
And told Tim to the depot to take it that day.
He promised he would, and begun to make haste,

For he found that there was not a great while to waste.
So, kissing his wife, he bade her good-bye,

And out of the room in an instant did hie;

He met the good nurse on the stairs, coming up
With the "orthodox gruel," for his wife, in a cup.

"Where's the twins?" said the tailor. "Oh, they are all right,"
The good nurse replied; "they are looking so bright!
I've hushed them to sleep,-they look so like their Pop,--
And I've left them down stairs, where they sleep like a top."
In a hurry Tim shouldered the basket, and got
To the rail-station, after a long and sharp trot,

And he'd just enough time to say "Brown-Norristown-
A basket of clothes-" and then the train was gone.

The light-hearted tailor made haste to return,
For his heart with affection for his family did burn;
And it's always the case, with a saint or a sinner,
Whate'er may occur, he's on hand for his dinner.
"How are the twins?" was his first inquiry;
"I've hurried home quickly my darlings to see,"
In ecstasy quite of his reason bereft.

"Oh, the dear little angels hain't cried since you left!

"Have you, my sweets?"-and the nurse turned to where Just a short time before, were her objects of care.

Why-which of you children," said she with surprise, "Removed that ar basket?-now don't tell no lies!"”

"Basket! what basket?" cried Tim-with affright;

66

Why, the basket of clothes--I thought it all right

To put near the fire, and, fearing no harm,

Placed, the twins in so cozy, to keep them quite warm."