"But he had such a smiling way, And a blue and sunny eye; And my heart was like a heart of wax And no matter what he wished for, "He grew a bit wild and thoughtless, "And so one day he left us-— "I'm glad I've said this much to you, 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, That one day my boy will come again, I must have been weak and faulty, "His father never looked the same, I thought above the garden fence "Stand out of my light, dear neighbor! My long-lost boy come home again, The latch of the gate was lifted, A bearded man with boyhood's eyes Right up in his two strong arms; My boy who went from home." MERCY.-SHAKSPEARE. The quality of mercy is not strained; Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's And that same prayer should teach us all to render 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 peo ple 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, As a fitting reward for his kindness of heart, He was blessed with a partner both comely and smart, But another "surprise" was in store for Tim T., The twins were two boys, and poor Tim was inclined But fathers' and mothers' opinions, they say Now, Mrs. Tim Twinkleton-I should have said- That the basket should meet any further delay, And out of the room in an instant did hie; He met the good nurse on the stairs, coming up "Where's the twins?" said the tailor. "Oh, they are all right," And he'd just enough time to say "Brown-Norristown~~ The light-hearted tailor made haste to return, “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. 46 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; 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." |