him, at the king's command,
Three lords, three ladies, rise.

And after now a little while,
The king sees, far away,
The noble ladies and the knights
Return without delay.

The king he cries out suddenly,--
"Help, Heaven! see I aright?
'Tis my own blood, in open hall,
I have treated with cruel slight.

"Help, Heaven! in pilgrim dress I see
My sister Bertha stand;
So pale in my gay palace here,
A beggar's staff in her hand!"

Lady Bertha sinks down at his feet,
Pale image of despair;
His wrath returns, and he looks on her
With a stern and angry air.

Lady Bertha quick cast down her eyes,
No word to speak she tried;
Little Roland raised his clear blue eyes,--
"My uncle!" loud he cried.

"Rise up, my sister Bertha, rise!"
The king said tenderly;
"For the sake of this dear son of thine,
Thou shalt forgiven be."

Lady Bertha rose up joyfully:--
"Dear brother! thanks to thee;
Little Roland shall requite the boon
Thou hast bestowed on me.

"He of the glory of his king
Shall be an image fair;
The colors of many a foreign realm
His banner and shield shall bear.

"The cup from many a royal board
He shall seize with his free right hand,
And safety and fresh glory bring
To his sighing mother-land."

BILLY RABBIT TO MARY.

[Billy Rabbit was a little rabbit which a boy caught in the
woods, and gave to a little girl of the name of Mary. She
was very attentive to the little prisoner, gave him an
abundance of good things to eat, and tried her best to make
him happy; but all in vain. After many attempts, he at last
succeeded in making his escape, and instantly disappeared in
the woods. In the course of the day, the following letter,
sealed with a sharp thorn, was received by his friend Mary.]

Artichoke Woods.

You thought, my dear Mary, you had Billy fast,
But I tried very hard, and escaped you at last;
The chance was so tempting, I thought I would _nab_ it,--
It was not very naughty, I'm sure, in a rabbit.
O, let not your kind heart be angry with me;
But think what a joy it is to be free,
To see the green woods, to feel the fresh air,
To skip, and to play, and to run everywhere.
The food that you gave me was pleasant and sweet,
But I'd