ns, that
in Henry Taylor's drama, 'Edwin the Fair,' there are some
pleasing lines, where the wind is feigned to feel the want
of a voice, and to woo the trees to give him one.

"He applied to several: but the wanderer rested with the
pine, because her voice was constant, soft, and lowly deep;
and he welcomed in her a wild memorial of the ocean-cave,
his birthplace. There is a fine description of a storm in
'Coningsby,' where a sylvan language is made to swell the
diapason of the tempest. 'The wind howled, the branches of
the forest stirred, and sent forth sounds like an
incantation. Soon might be distinguished the various voices
of the mighty trees, as they expressed their terror or their
agony. The oak roared, the beech shrieked, the elm sent
forth its long, deep groan; while ever and anon, amid a
momentary pause, the passion of the ash was heard in moans
of thrilling anguish.'"

I shall close this chapter on the music of Nature by appending a
beautiful reference to what has been called "the music of the
spheres." The lines form, as well, an elegant and elevated description
of and tribute to music in general. I regret that the author's name
cannot be given.

"The Father spake: in grand reverberations
Through space rolled on the mighty music-tide;
While to its low, majestic modulations
The clouds of chaos slowly swept aside.

The Father spake: a dream, that had been lying
Hushed from eternity in silence there,
Heard the pure melody, and, low replying,
Grew to that music in the wondering air,--

Grew to that music, slowly, grandly waking,
Till, bathed in beauty, it became a world;
Led by his voice, its spheric pathway taking,
While glorious clouds their wings around it furled.

Not yet has ceased that sound, his love revealing;
Though, in response, a universe moves by:
Throughout eternity its echo pealing,
World after world awakes in glad reply.

And wheresoever in his rich creation
Sweet music breathes,--in wave, in bird, or soul,--
'Tis but the faint and far reverberation
Of that great tune to which the planets roll."

III.

A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.

"Thespis, the first professor of our art,
At country wakes sang ballads from a cart."

DRYDEN.

Music is as old as the wo