universal harmony prevails, without forcing into submission the free discord of a single voice. 5. This is the hardest and the bravest task which a true soul has to perform amid the clashing elements of time. But once has it been done perfectly, unto the end; and that Voice so clear in its meekness-is heard above all the dir of a tumultuous world: one after another chimes in with its patient sweetness; and, through infinite discords, the listening soul can perceive that the great tune is slowly coming into harmony. MRS. L. M. CHILD. A XXXIX. ABOU BEN ADHEM. I. BOU BEN ADHEM—(may his tribe increase!)— And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, II. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said, 'What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, III. Abou spoke more low, But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then, LEIGH HUNT. WE XL. THE UNKNOWN WRECK. E one day descried some shapeless object drifting at a distance. At sea, everything that breaks the monotony of the surrounding expanse attracts attention. It proved to be the mast of a ship that must have been completely wrecked; for there were the remains of handkerchiefs, by which some of the crew had fastened themselves to this spar, to prevent their being washed off by the waves. 2. There was no trace by which the name of the ship could be ascertained. The wreck had evidently drifted about for many months; clusters of shell-fish had fastened about it, and long sea-weeds flaunted at its sides. But where, thought I, are the crew? Their struggle has long been over. They have gone down amidst the roar of the tempest. Their bones lie whitening among the caverns of the deep. Silence, oblivion, like the waves, have closed over them, and no one can tell the story of their end. 3. What sighs have been wafted after that ship! what prayers offered up at the deserted fireside of home! How often has the wife, the mother, pored over the daily news, to catch some casual intelligence of this rover of the deep! How has expectation darkened into anxiety, anxiety into dread, and dread into despair! Alas! not one memento shall ever return for love to cherish. All that shall ever be known is, that she sailed from her port, "and was never heard of more!" 4. The sight of the wreck, as usual, gave rise to many dismal anecdotes. This was particularly the case in the evening, when the weather, which had hitherto been fair, began to look wild and threatening, and gave indications of one of those sudden storms which will sometimes break upon the serenity of a summer voyage. in 5. As we sat round the dull light of a lamp in the cabin, that made the gloom more ghastly, every one had his tale of shipwreck and disaster. I was particularly struck with a short one related by the captain. 6. "As I was once sailing," said he, "in a fine stout ship across the banks of Newfoundland, one of those heavy fogs, which prevail in those parts, rendered it impossible for us to see far ahead even in the daytime; but at night the weather was so thick that we could not distinguish any object at twice the length of the ship. 7. "I kept lights at the mast-head, and a constant watch forward to look out for fishing-smacks, which are accustomed to lie at anchor on the banks. The wind was blowing a smacking breeze, and we were going at a great rate through the water. Suddenly the watch gave the alarm of 'A sail ahead!' It was scarcely uttered before we were upon her. 8. "She was a small schooner, at anchor, with her broadside toward us. The crew were all asleep, and had neglected to hoist a light. We struck her just amidships. The force, the size, and weight of our vessel bore her down below the waves. We passed over her, and were hurried on our course. 9. "As the crashing wreck was sinking beneath us, I had a glimpse of two or three half-naked wretches rushing from her cabin. They just started from their beds to be swallowed shrieking by the waves. I heard their drowning cry mingling with the wind. The blast that bore it to our ears swept us out of all further hearing. I shall never forget that cry! 10. "It was some time before we could put the ship about, she was under such headway. We returned, as nearly as we could guess, to the place where the smack had anchored. We cruised about for several hours in the dense fog. We fired several guns, and listened if we might hear the halloo of any survivors. But all was silent; we never saw nor heard anything of them more." WASHINGTON IRVING. XLI.-UNION AND LIBERTY: FIRST VOICE. LAG of the heroes who left us their glory, Blazoned in song and illumined in story, and flame, ALL. Up with our banner bright, Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore; Loud rings the nation's cry,— SECOND VOICE. Light of our firmament, guide of our nation, THIRD VOICE. Empire unsceptred! what foe shall assail thee, FOURTH VOICE. Yet, if by madness and treachery blighted, Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw Then, with the arms of thy millions united, Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law! ALL. Lord of the Universe! shield us and guide us, Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun! Thou hast united us, who shall divide us? Keep us, O keep us, the Many in One! Up with our banner bright, Sprinkled with starry light, Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore; Loud rings the nation's cry,— Union and Liberty!-one evermore! O. W. HOLMES. XLII. SYMPATHY WITH THE GREEKS. A ND has it come to this? Are we so humbled, so low, so debased, that we dare not express our sympathy for suffering Greece, that we dare not articulate our detestation of the brutal excesses of which she has been the bleeding victim, lest we might offend some one or more of their imperial and royal majesties? If gentlemen are afraid to act rashly on such a subject, suppose, Mr. Chairman, that we unite in an humble petition, addressed to their majesties, beseeching them, that of their gracious condescension, they would allow us to express our feelings and our sympathies. 2. How shall it run? "We, the representatives of the FREE people of the United States of America, humbly approach the thrones of your imperial and royal majesties, and supplicate that, of your imperial and royal clemency," -I cannot go through the disgusting recital! My lips have not yet learned to pronounce the sycophantic language of a degraded slave! 3. Are we so mean, so base, so despicable, that we may not attempt to express our horror, utter our indignation, at the most brutal and atrocious war that ever stained earth or shocked high Heaven? at the ferocious deeds of a savage and infuriated soldiery, stimulated and urged on by the clergy of a fanatical and inimical religion, and rioting in all the excesses of blood and butchery, at the mere details of which the heart sickens and recoils? 4. If the great body of Christendom can look on calmly and coolly whilst all this is perpetrated on a Christian |