mist of David's
slumber--and there was the stage-coach. He started up, with all his
ideas about him.

"Hallo, driver! Take a passenger?" shouted he.

"Room on top!" answered the driver.

Up mounted David, and bowled away merrily towards Boston, without so
much as a parting glance at that fountain of dreamlike vicissitude. He
knew not that a phantom of Wealth had thrown a golden hue upon its
waters, nor that one of Love had sighed softly to their murmur, nor that
one of Death had threatened to crimson them with his blood--all, in the
brief hour since he lay down to sleep. Sleeping or waking, we hear not
the airy footsteps of the strange things that almost happen. Does it not
argue a superintending Providence, that, while viewless and unexpected
events thrust themselves continually athwart our path, there should
still be regularity enough in mortal life, to render foresight even
partially available?

LIV. MY KATE.

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.--1809-1861.

She was not as pretty as women I know,
And yet all your best made of sunshine and snow
Drop to shade, melt to nought in the long-trodden ways,
While she's still remember'd on warm and cold days--
My Kate.

Her air had a meaning, her movements a grace;
You turn'd from the fairest to gaze on her face:
And when you had once seen her forehead and mouth,
You saw as distinctly her soul and her truth--
My Kate.

Such a blue inner light from her eyelids outbroke,
You look'd at her silence and fancied she spoke:
When she did, so peculiar yet soft was the tone,
Though the loudest spoke also, you heard her alone--
My Kate.

I doubt if she said to you much that could act
As a thought or suggestion: she did not attract
In the sense of the brilliant or wise: I infer
'Twas her thinking of others, made you think of her--
My Kate.

She never found fault with you, never implied
Your wrong by her right; and yet men at her side
Grew nobler, girls purer, as through the whole town
The children were gladder that pull'd at her gown--
My Kate.

None knelt at her feet confess'd lovers in thrall;
They knelt more to God than they used,--that was all;
If you praised her as charming, some ask'd what you meant,
But the charm of her presence was felt when she went--
My Kate.

The weak and th