of a star,
Gladdening and blessing all!

Oh! wondrous are the living lays
That human lips have breathed,
And deep the music men have won
From lyres with laurel wreathed:

But there's a spell on lip and lyre,
Sweet though their tones may be--
Some jarring note, some tuneless string,
Aye mars the melody.

The strings sleep 'neath too weak a touch,
Or break, 'neath one too strong;
Or we forget the master-chord
That should rule all our song.

When shall our spirit learn again
The lay once to it given?
When shall we rise, like thee, sweet bird!
And, singing, soar to heaven?

FANNY FARMER.

DOG-SELLING EXTRAORDINARY.

Two ladies, friends of a near relative of my own, from whom I received
an account of the circumstance, were walking in Regent Street, and
were accosted by a man who requested them to buy a beautiful little
dog, covered with long, white hair, which he carried in his arms. Such
things are not uncommon in that part of London, and the ladies passed
on without heeding him. He followed, and repeated his entreaties,
stating, that as it was the last he had to sell, they should have it
at a reasonable price. They looked at the animal; it was really an
exquisite little creature, and they were at last persuaded. The man
took it home for them, received his money, and left the dog in the
arms of one of the ladies. A short time elapsed, and the dog, which
had been very quiet, in spite of a restless, bright eye, began to shew
symptoms of uneasiness, and as he ran about the room, exhibited some
unusual movements, which rather alarmed the fair purchasers. At last,
to their great dismay, the new dog ran squeaking up one of the window
curtains, so that when the gentleman returned home a few minutes
after, he found the ladies in consternation, and right glad to have
his assistance. He vigorously seized the animal, took out his
penknife, cut off its covering, and displayed _a large rat_ to their
astonished eyes, and of course to its own destruction.--_Mrs Lee's
Anecdotes of Animals_.

* * * * *

Printed and Published by W. and R. CHAMBERS, High Street, Edinburgh.
Also sold by W.S. ORR, Amen Corner, London; D.N. CHAMBERS, 55 West
Nile Street, Glasgow; and J. M'GLASHAN, 50 Upper Sackville Street,
Dublin.--Advertisements for Monthly Parts are requested to be se