OETICAL ALBUM OR Choice Selections of Poetry and Song CONTAINING POEMS OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, GLOWING DESCRIP TIONS OF THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE AND RURAL LIFE, GEMS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE, LYRICS OF HEROISM, ADVEN TURE AND PATRIOTISM, INCLUDING Jewels of Sentiment and Reflection, NARRATIVES AND BALLADS, POPULAR MELODIES, SONGS OF SORROW AND ADVERSITY, CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH, HISTORIC PLACES AND EVENTS, GEMS OF POETRY, WIT, AND HUMOR, MASTERPIECES OF ELOQUENCE, PATHOS, ETC., ETC. THE WHO E FORMING A Charming Galaxy of Selections from the Most Celebrated Authors of Literature, Art and Music, Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1893, by J. R. JONES, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. . All Rights Reserved. INTRODUCTION. This very attractive and valuable work embraces all that is of the greatest interest in Poetry, Prose, Art and Song. It covers the whole field of literature in all languages from the earliest times. Those Gems which have fascinated the world with their beauty are here gathered into one magnificent cluster. The most brilliant Authors of every age, in every department of literature, shine resplendent in one marvelous galaxy. The book is a popular educator, a vast treasury of the noblest thoughts and sentiments, and its Jewels should sparkle in every home throughout the land. As this volume is pre-eminently a home book, it is appropriate that its first department should be entitled the Home Circle. Here, gathered into one rich and beautiful bouquet, are fascinating descriptions of the pleasures of home life. "The Cotter's Saturday Night," by Robert Burns; Daniel Webster's description of the "Old Log Cabin;" the song of the "Merry Christmas Time," by Sir Walter Scott, and the "Old Familiar Faces," by Charles Lamb, are but specimens of the captivating productions which embellish this part of the book. The next department is Narratives and Ballads. There are songs that have touched the hearts of whole nations. Every phase of human life has been pictured in words and rhythms that entrance the reader. This part of the work may be described as stories told in verse-such as "The Village Blacksmith," by Longfellow; "Bingen on the Rhine," by Mrs. Norton; and the "Sands of Dee," by Charles Kingsley. The narrative portion of the work contains everything of special interest stored in ancient or modern literature. Under the title of Love and Friendship is a vast collection of heart-poems. It is impossible, for want of space, to mention even the names of these beautiful gems. Here are the finest things written by Moore, Byron, Goldsmith, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Ingelow, Tennyson, and a host of others. The great love passion—its joys, its pathos, its hopes, its disappointments, its all-controlling power -throbs in every line. We come next to the Beauties of Nature-which is the native field of poetry. The reader, looking with the eyes of the poet, is spell-bound amidst the beauties of creation. He beholds landscapes of marvelous loveliness; and gazes up at the midnight heavens "where blossom the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels." With Thomson he beholds the magnificent panorama of the seasons; with |