Towered like the imperial Thistle, not unfurnished
With its appropriate grace, yet rather framed
To be admired, than coveted and loved.

Even at that age, she ruled as sovereign Queen
Among her Play-mates; else their simple sports
Had wanted power to occupy a mind

Held in subjection by a strong controul
Of studious application, self-imposed.
Books were her creditors; to them she paid,
With pleasing, anxious eagerness, the hours
Which they exacted; were it time allowed,
Or seized upon by stealth, or fairly won,
By stretch of industry, from other tasks.

-Oh! pang of sorrowful regret for them

Whom, in their youth, sweet study has enthralled,

That they have lived for harsher servitude,

Whether in soul, in body, or estate!

Such doom was hers; yet nothing could subdue

Her keen desire of knowledge; or efface
Those brighter images-by books impressed
Upon her memory; faithfully as stars

That occupy their places, and, though oft

Hidden by clouds, and oft bedimmed by haze,
Are not to be extinguished, or impaired.

Two passions, both degenerate, for they both Began in honour, gradually obtained

Rule over her, and vexed her daily life;

An unrelenting, avaricious thrift;

And a strange thraldom of maternal love,
That held her spirit, in its own despite,
Bound by vexation, and regret, and scorn.
Constrained forgiveness, and relenting vows,
And tears, in pride suppressed, in shame concealed,
To a poor dissolute Son, her only Child,

-Her wedded days had opened with mishap,
Whence dire dependance.What could she perform
To shake the burthen off? Ah! there she felt,
Indignantly, the weakness of her sex,
The injustice of her low estate.-She mused;
Resolved, adhered to her resolve ; her heart
Closed by degrees to charity; and, thence
Expecting not Heaven's blessing, placed her trust
In ceaseless pains and parsimonious care,

Which got, and sternly hoarded each day's gain.

Thus all was re-established, and a pile.

Constructed, that sufficed for every end,

Save the contentment of the Builder's mind;

A mind by nature indisposed to aught

So placid, so inactive, as content;

A Mind intolerant of lasting peace,

And cherishing the pang which it deplored...
Dread life of conflict! which I oft compared
To the agitation of a brook that runs
Down rocky mountains-buried now and lost
In silent pools, unfathomably deep ;—
Now, in a moment, starting forth again
With violence, and proud of its escape ;→
Until it sink once more, by slow degrees,
Or instantly, into as dark repose.

A sudden illness seized her in the strength Of life's autumnal season.-Shall I tell How on her bed of death the Matron lay, To Providence submissive, so she thought; But fretted, vexed, and wrought upon-almost To anger, by the malady, that griped

Her prostrate frame with unrelaxing power,

As the fierce Eagle fastens on the Lamb.

She prayed, she moaned-her Husband's Sister watched Her dreary pillow, waited on her needs;

And yet the very sound of that kind foot

Was anguish to her ears!--" And must she rule,”

This was the dying Woman heard to say

In bitterness," and must she rule and reign,
"Sole Mistress of this house, when I am gone?
"Sit by my fire-possess what I possessed-
"Tend what I tended-calling it her own!"
Enough;-I fear, too much.-Of nobler feeling
Take this example. One autumnal evening,
While she was yet in prime of health and strength,
I well remember, while I passed her door,
Musing with loitering step, and upward eye
Turned tow'rds the planet Jupiter, that hung

Above the centre of the Vale, a voice

Roused me, her voice; it said, "That glorious Star

"In its untroubled element will shine

"As now it shines, when we are laid in earth

"And safe from all our sorrows."-She is safe,

And her uncharitable acts, I trust,

And harsh unkindnesses, are all forgiven;

Though, in this Vale, remembered with deep awe!"

THE Vicar paused; and tow'rds a seat advanced,
A long stone-seat, framed in the Church-yard wall;
Part under shady sycamore, and part

Offering a place of rest in pleasant sunshine,
Even as may suit the comers old or young
Who seek the House of worship, while the Bells

Yet ring with all their voices, or before

The last hath ceased its solitary knoll.

To this commodious resting-place he led ;

Where, by his side, we all sate down; and there

His office, uninvited, he resumed.

"As, on a sunny bank, a tender Lamb Lurks in safe shelter from the winds of March, Screened by its Parent, so that little mound Lies guarded by its neighbour; the small heap