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"Boy! I had loved her too,—nay, more, "Twas I who loved her first;

For months-for years-the golden thought Within my soul was nursed;

He came he conquered-they were wed;My air-blown bubble burst!

"Then on my mind a shadow fell, And evil hopes grew rife;

The damning thought stuck in my heart,
And cut me like a knife,

That she, whom all my days I loved,
Should be another's wife!

"By heaven! it was a fearful thing
To see my brother now,

And mark the placid calm that sat
Forever on his brow,

That seemed in bitter scorn to say,
I am more loved than thou!

"I left my home-I left the land-
I crossed the raging sea;—
In vain-in vain-where'er I turned,
My memory went with me;-
My whole existence, night and day,
In memory seemed to be.

"I came again-I found them here-
Thou'rt like thy father, boy-
He doted on that pale face there,
I've seen them kiss and toy,-

I've seen him locked in her fond arms,
Wrapped in delirious joy!

"He disappeared-draw nearer child;-
He died-no one knew how;

The murdered body ne'er was found,
The tale is hushed up now;

But there was one who rightly guessed
The hand that struck the blow.

"It drove her mad-yet not his death,-
No-not his death alone:

For she had clung to hope, when all

Knew well that there was none;

No, boy! it was a sight she saw
That froze her into stone!

"I am thy uncle, child,-why stare
So frightfully aghast ?-

The arras waves, but know'st thou not

"Tis nothing but the blast?
I, too, have had my fears like these,
But such vain fears are past.

I'll show thee what thy mother saw,-
I feel 'twill ease my breast,
And this wild tempest-laden night
Suits with the purpose best ;—
Come hither-thou hast often sought
To open this old chest.

“It has a secret spring; the touch
Is known to me alone;
Slowly the lid is raised, and now-
What see you that you groan
So heavily? That thing is but
A bare-ribbed skeleton."

A sudden crash-the lid fell down,
Three strides he backward gave,-
"Oh God! it is my brother's self
Returning from the grave!
His grasp of lead is on my throat,
Will no one help or save?"

That night they laid him on his bed,

In raving madness tossed;

He gnashed his teeth, and with wild oaths
Blasphemed the Holy Ghost;

And, ere the light of morning broke,
A sinner's soul was lost.

THE DEAD LIGHT-HOUSE KEEPER.-WARE.

Out, out at sea, the light (so typical of God, seeing it ever watches man, and shines to warn him from the world of death) burns year by year, tended by willing hands. Of such a light I have a tale to tell. I would it were not true, but it is; yet, if you will not believe it so, 'tis wise, per haps, for 'tis well to think life's tragedies are few.

This light-house which I speak about hath long since yielded to the sea; but at the time I speak of it was strong, stout oak. It was far away from shore, and the mad sea

when slightly moved elsewhere, raged around this light, Sometimes through three long months the two keepers saw no other human faces than their own. What talked they of? There could be no news; the weather, sea, and passing ships were all in all to them. Did they quarrel, no one saw; had one of them murdered the other, no human voice was there to whisper, "Cain, where is thy brother?”

It was a Christmas eve, and the two watchers looked toward the shore, which in the day was rocky, far-off haze. The weather was rough, and likely to be rougher. Gay were the men, for you must understand that those who watch in distant light-houses live so long at the light, so long on shore. It was a coming holiday for those two men, so they were merry. At last the boat had come.

Much laughter was there; for one of the arriving watchers, a great, rough man, of over six feet high, was sad-quite downcast. They said this Hal was deep in love, and piqued at leaving his young mistress several months. Few words he answered; he lumbered up the light-house steps, leaving his comrade and the men chatting village gossip blithely at the bottom of the stairs cut in the rock.

"Good-night," the boat's crew sang out loudly when the food for three long months, and the large cans of oil for the beneficent lamp, all had been landed; for they were hurried, the wind growing lusty. "Good-night," once more they said, but never answer came from the light-house. They laughed again; then, with quick-pulsing oar, they pulled toward land, whence blew the fierce, fierce wind.

The second watcher, comrade to Hal, stood, the water lapping around about his feet, watching the lessening boat and softening sound of the oars. At last he turned and went up the flight of stairs into the light-house. There he saw Hal, stretched at length on the rough wood floor. "Hal!" No "Hal!" in a louder voice. No answer.

answer came.

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"Ial!" half fear, half anger. Still the man lying on the ground spoke not. What! surly, Hal? Why, come, look up, my lad!" Yet no reply. He then pushed him with his foot. The body yielded and returned. Then the man, teror-struck, leaned down and swept the face up to the light. Great God! bubbling at the mouth, he sees a torrent of

red blood! The man was ailing ere he came, and come, he died; a great, broad-shouldered man, in his full prime, yet dead. Down, down the slippery steps fled the living tender of the light, and hoarsely called to the far-distant boat. They saw the broad flood of light pour from the door as it was open ed, and guessing that rough Hal had tardily come to wish the boat good-night, they sang, "All's well!" which swept across the waves.

The same wind which carried the sweet sounds to him who helpless called, carried his voice far out to sea; for the wind set from land, and the boat neared it. He was quite alone with the dead man! His fear was terrible; it was so still. He shrank away, indeed he trembled. Then he thought it moved. He cried, "Old Hal!" once more, and then he was afraid again.

At last, all fear being gone, he took the mute body in his arms and kissed it. Then he wept, and called the dead man "Poor old Hal!" Then again, a dread panic seized him. He crouched far away from the dead man, and the ice-sweat stood on his forehead. Then for a short time he was mad, remembering that if he cast Hal into the sea, the world might tell his children he was a murderer; and in his madness, he piled over the dead all things that came to hand.

Yet still he saw the awful outline of the dead. Then once again, he caught it in his arms and wept; and so the first night passed, and Christmas day had come. Three months must pass ere human life would once more bless him with its presence. They seemed thrice three hundred years. He notched the days on a stick; and so lost was he sometimes, he gave a week a dozen days at least.

In one way alone could he have gained the human help he needed: by letting out the lamp, and thus giving the alarm. This he would not do, and every night the light shone out, a comfort to all mariners. At last he scarce knew how the time went on.

Down the steps with the tide he moved, and came back only with it, so that he might be as far away as possible from that which daily grew more and more terrible. He played cards with himself, and quarreled with himself, that

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he might hear a human voice. Then, as ships passed far off, he waved to them white drapery; and if he heard a cheer, it was a red-letter day.

So the time passed, from miserable day to day; and all this time, each eve the light shone clear, as true as God. The winter passed, the spring had come, and the three months were gone. On that blessed day, when they were passed, he wept for very joy. The hours lagged at first, but as the good sun declined, they fled as panic-stricken. Had he not lived for this dear liberating day? He drew the limit of his future at this date; and he had grown so sure of liberation on this day, that to think he still must live with it was madness. “Oh, holy Heaven, pity me!" (for he had learned to pray heartily while in this tomb.)

The sun set calmly saying, "Peace;" but he was all unrestful. He had endured three months of nights, he could endure no more. His haggard eyes streamed in terror shoreward, over the vacant waves. The twilight coming, he to the rocks fell prone amid the heaving tide. He sought death; he would never rise again. Twilight was gone, and night had come. For the first time the "Light" was blind. As he lay, the water rising, he thought he heard the grating of a keel upon the rocks. Yet turned he not, for he had often thought the same when it was the wind. Then he heard human voices: 'twas still the mocking wind. Then, his eyes still closed, he felt lifted; 'twas the rising tide, he thought. Breath! he felt warm, human breath upon his face! He opened his eyes, saw brethren near, near him! "Oh, God!" he cried; "the boat! the boat! the boat!"

HOW THE GENTLEMEN DO BEFORE MARRIAGE

Oh! then they come flattering,

Soft nonsense chattering,

Praising your pickling,

Playing at tickling,

Love verses writing,

Acrostics inditing,

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