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Yes, thou art launch'd on the great sea of being;
Nor aught of things that are, or things to be,
Can wrest thy birthright,-immortality!
Onward, and ever onward, shalt thou fling
Eternity around thee, feeble thing;

Nor comet's course, nor rolling century,

Number thine years! The earth shall fold her wing,
And make her nest in darkness; from the sky

Shall pass away yon fiery sentinel,

And she, thy childhood's monthly chronicler,-
When from this womb of nature thou shalt climb
The mighty stair of being, borne sublime
The stars among, thyself a glorious star;
Or like a smouldering brand in ruin dwell!

Thoughts in Past Years.

PETER HOWARD was the head-clerk in the large and flourishing establishment of Mr. Bradwell, who carried on the business of the cotton-trade in the town of Preston. For many years Peter had held his present situation; and, from long services and well-known integrity, was regarded by his master with great affection, who treated him on all occasions more as a friend than a dependant. About a year before the commence

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ment of our tale, Peter married the daughter of a farmer who lived in the neighbouring village of Mapletoft; and in Hannah Ford-such was his wife's maiden name— found an help meet for him. If Peter was pious towards God and just towards man, Hannah was no less so; and by her diligent attention to household-affairs, her good temper, and cheerful conversation, made for him a very happy home. At the time of which we write, she had lately presented Peter a son, now a fortnight old, and with the boy was, in common phrase, doing well.

On an evening at this period, while she was expecting her husband's return from his work, her neighbour Mrs. Dewis called to pay her respects, and to congratulate Hannah on the important event that had taken place. This lady, it may be observed, was in most points a very different person from Peter's wife. Her husband, who had been a small linen-draper in Preston, left her a widow, some few years before the time of which we write, with a very tolerable income for a person in her situation in life, which she spent in making herself comfortable, as she called it; that is, she expended it all upon herself. Mr. Dewis, when alive, had regularly attended the parish church, and, as he went to no other place of worship, was commonly considered to be a good Churchman. After his death, however, the widow, vexed at something said or done by the vicar, took leave of the Church, and joined the Methodists here she remained for some time; when, on some annoyance from the preacher, she left that sect, and became a regular attendant at the Independent meeting-house. At this period politics ran very high in Preston; and as her new friends almost universally espoused the so-called Radical interest, Mrs. Dewis entered warmly into the question, and, by all means in her power, endeavoured to draw over others to that

party. Among those upon whom she made her attacks were the Howards, who, as being neither Radicals nor Dissenters, were in her opinion singularly benighted and ignorant beings, and ought, as she said, to be converted. In consequence of this, very little intimacy existed between the parties. Peter and Hannah had been brought up in strictly Church-principles, and regarded leaving the Church as one of the greatest sins a man could be guilty of, and one of the heaviest afflictions with which he could be visited. And as for politics, neither Peter nor his wife knew much about them, and thought that the less they attended to them the better. It was therefore with some degree of surprise that Hannah heard the little girl, who commonly waited upon her, announce, on the present occasion, the arrival of Mrs. Dewis. As soon as she was seated, the widow kindly remarked that Mrs. Howard was looking wonderfully well, and requested to see the little stranger: the child was accordingly brought out of his cradle, and did full justice to the high encomiums which were passed upon him. At this time Peter came in, having finished his work, and brought a kind message from Mrs. Bradwell, who, he said, had promised to call during the evening.

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Humph," said the widow, who did not like the Bradwells at all. Why this was the case, it is impossible to say, perhaps because they were Church people. and not Radicals. "Humph," said the widow; “ very nice people the Bradwells- -very nice people indeed. But for all that, they've their faults as well as other folks. We've all our faults, Mr. Howard, eh! Well, well, it's a wicked world we live in; and I suppose the Bradwells are much as others are, although some people do speak so very well of them." Here she looked very significantly at Peter and his wife. "Well," she