MAN'S MORTALITY. The original of the following beautiful poem is found in an Irish MS. in Trinity College, Dublin. There is reason to think that the poem was written by one of those primitive Christian bards in the reign of King Diarmid, about the year 554, and was sung or chanted at the last grand national assembly of kings, chieftains, and bards, ever held in the famous Halls of Tara. Tho translation is by the learned Dr. O'Donnovan. Like as the damask rose you see, The rose withers, the blossom blasteth, The gourd consumes, the man-he dies. Like to the grass that's newly sprung, The grass withers, the tale is ended, Like to the bubble in the brook, The bubble's out, the look forgot, Like to an arrow from the bow, Or like a race, or like a goal, The arrow shot, the flood soon spent, Like to the lightning from the sky, Or like a journey three days long, The lightning's past, the post must go, RESPECT THE BURDEN.-Miss MULOCK. Great Garibaldi, through the streets one day, His zealous followers would have driven aside Thou happy soul, who travelest like a king Along the rose-strewn pathway of thy lot, Respect the burden. Thou may'st see it or not,For one heart is to another a sealed thing, Laughter there is that hideth sobs or moans; Firm footsteps can leave blood prints on the stones. Respect the burden, whatsoe'er it be; Whether loud outcries vex the startled air, Lifts her still face, so like tranquillity— Though each strained heartstring quivers, never shrinks,— "Let this cup pass from me!" then stoops and drinks. Oh, heavy burden! Why 'tis borne and how None know save those who bear; and Him whose hand Has laid it on the shoulder and said, "StandStand upright! Take this chrism upon thy brow, My own anointed! Sore thy load may be; But know-beneath it thou art carrying Me." THE MISSING SHIP.-JOHN B. GOUGH. It was long before the cable stretched across the ocean, when the steamers did not make such rapid runs from continent to continent, that the ship Atlantic was missing. She had been due in New York for some days, and the people began to despair. "The Atlantic has not been heard from yet!" "What news from the Atlantic on Exchange?" "None." Telegraph dispatches came in from all quarters. "Any news from the Atlantic?" And the word thrilled along the wires to the hearts of those who had no friends on board. "No." Day after day passed, and people began to be excited when the booming of the guns told that a ship was coming up the Narrows. People went out upon the Battery and Castle Garden with their spy-glasses; but it was a British ship, the Union Jack was flying; they watched her come to her moorings and their hearts sank within them. "Any news from the Atlantic?" "Has not the Atlantic arrived?" "No!" "She sailed fifteen days before we did, and we have heard nothing from her." and the people said, "there is no use hoping against hope, she has gone, like the President. She has made her last port." Day after day passed, and those who had friends on board began to make up their mourning. Day after day passed, and the captain's wife was so ill that the doctor said she would die, if suspense were not removed. Day after day passed, and men looked at one another and said, “Ah, it is a sad thing about the Atlantic!" At length one bright and beautiful morning the guns boomed across the bay, and a ship was seen coming into port. Down went the people to the Battery and Castle Garden. It was a British ship again, and their hearts seemed to die within them. But up she came, making a ridge of white foam before her, and you could hear a heavy sigh from that crowd, as if it were the last hope dying out. Men looked at one another blankly; by and by some one cried out, "She has passed her moorings, she is steaming up the river." Then they wiped away the dimness of grief and watched the vessel. Round she came most gallantly, and as she passed the immense crowds on the wharves and at Castle Garden, the crew hoisted flags from trucks to mainchains. An officer leaped upon the paddle-box, put his trumpet to his lips, and cried out, "The Atlantic is safe. She has put into port for repairs!" Then such a shout! Oh, how they shouted! Shout! shout! shout! "The Atlantic is safe!" Bands of music paraded the streets, telegraph wires worked all night long, "The Atlantic is safe," bringing joy to millions of hearts; and yet not one in a hundred thousand of those who rejoiced had a friend or relative on board that steamer. It was sympathy with the sorrows of others, with whom they had no tie in common, save that which God created when he made of one blood all the nations of the earth, and permitted us, as brethren, to call him the common Father of us all. WAIL OF A DISAPPOINTED CANDIDATE. "Oh, ever thus from childhood's hour I never had a dog, nor cow, or Hen, that laid an egg a day, But what was marked and tuck away! I never raised a suckin' pig, To glad me with its sunny eye, But when it growed up fat and big, I couldn't find it in the sty! THE FIRST SNOW-FALL.-J. R. LOWELL. The snow had begun in the gloaming, Had been heaping field and highway From sheds new roofed with Carrara I stood and watched by the window I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn, Up spoke our own little Mabel, Saying, "Father, who makes it snow ?" And I told of the good All-father, Who cares for us here below. Again I looked at the snow-fall, I remembered the gradual patience And again to the child I whispered, Alone can make it fall." Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; That my kiss was given to her sister, |